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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.

Voluntar, -air(e, -eir, -ary, n. Also: -ier, -ire, -eer, volentair(e, -ear, wolenter, volontier, volunteri(e. [e.m.E. voluntary (1565), volunteer (c1600), voluntier (a1618).]

1. One who offers voluntarily to do something. b. specif. A volunteer soldier. 1627 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. IX 95.
Thair is no skuil … excep ane voluntar quha is reidar at the kirk 1669 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL 60.
A woman … who was persuaded by me to pase a volunteir to Virginyb. 1616 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 219.
The siege of Borthwik wes raised & the people (being al volentaires onlie) skattered 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 216/283.
Three thousand venturers braue, All voluntaires of conscience mou'd And would no wages haue(b) 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 85.
Wolenteris 1650 Laing MSS 251.
Such volunteires as can be mounted 16.. Maidment Balfour Ballads 34.
Then will I go A voluntire among the rest, If otherwise I be not prest 1664 Nicoll Diary 417.
Frensche volentearis 1685 Marchmont P. 51.
Voluntiers 1692 Douglas Corr. 383.
Both younger men of quality and only sons, as well as I, were there serving as volontiers 1694 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 3 Feb.
They ordain drums to be beat throw this burgh, for taking on volunteers(c) 1640 Laing MSS 205.
Gentlemen volunteries [Baillie II 471, volunteiris]

2. Of voluntary, of one's free will, voluntarily. 1644 Hume Douglas 278/5.
7000 men decernit to that journey: whilk number was soone made vp of voluntary [revision voluntaries], and without great difficultie

3. A piece of music freely composed, not based on a pre-existing tune. 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (ed.) 170.
Five pairtes voluntary composit be M. Andro