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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vent(o)urar(e, Venterer, n. Also: venturer(e, ventrar, went'rar. [e.m.E. venturer (1530).] a. One who undertakes a military venture, engages in war, etc., an adventurer. Also gentilman venturar, specif. those involved in the pacification of Lewis, see quots. b. A merchant trading overseas. Also merchand venturar.a. (1) 1598 Reg. Privy C. V 468.
Grantit … in favouris of Ludovik, Duke of Lennox, Erle Dernelie, [etc.] … gentilmen adventuraris for conquesing of the Iles of the Lewis … That ane ample commissioun of lieutenandrie salbe gevin to the said … Duke of Lennox … as lykwayes thay upoun the maneland salbe chargit … to deliver to his … majesteis lieutennent … thair haill lumefaldis [etc.] … to the saidis gentilmen venturaris use 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII 205.
Upoun occasioun of the barbarous … insolenceis commitit be the … rebellious thevis and lymmairis of the Lewis … it pleasit his … majestie to dispone the heritable rycht of the same to a nomber of gentilmen quho adventured to extirpat … the saidis rebellious lymmairis … and suirtie being gevin be the principal ringle[aders … ] for thair obedience … thai … asselȝeit the saidis gentilmen [venterers] 1621 Misc. Maitl. C. III 37.
The house of Stornowa in the Lewis is fallin albeit it had biddin the canon be the Erl of Argyle of auld, and be the gentilmen ventourares of lait(2) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 216/282.
From diuers partes did also come, Three thousand venturers braue, All voluntaires of conscience mou'd, And would no wages haue 1626 Garden Worthies 121.
Deeds predestinat they must be done, Tho whills the worthie warriors get the worss, And whills they ventrars in ther warrs they win 1626 Garden Worthies 139.
Sir Thomas Lyone … a … martiall minded gentleman … honor high pertaines To those … that extreamitie of storme sustaines, As went'rars wise most worthilie should winneb. (1) 1600-1610 Melvill 429.
Yie venturars beweall his tragedie … Yie mariners and tradars be the sie, Amang your merchants he haid eu'r the pryse 16… Balfour Her. Tracts 24.
It is to be adverted to wither such is a great merchant and venturer, or bot a poore pittefoger chapeman, or retailer 1649 Ruthven Corr. 118.
I mynd not to have him [sc. his son] a shoopkeeper, bot a venturer and travelling merchant(2) 1605 Glasgow Chart. I i dcviii.
The deane of gild salle be alwayis ane mercheand, and that ane mercheand sailer or mercheand venturer, and of the rank of mercheand 1640 Aberd. Council Lett. II 264.
Who byes plaiding in everie mercat and sells the same to merchand venturares 1644 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 729.
That na frie man … sall … receave any salt with the tounes missour except merchand ventereris quha sall happine to bring home the commoditeis 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 52.
William was a marchant venterer