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

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

Wardar, -o(u)r, -er, n. Also: vardar, -our, wairdour, -er, werdor. [Late ME and e.m.E. warder (c1400); Ward v.¹]

1. The feudal superior or, usually, his assignee having the lands to which a minor is heir in his possession during the minority. b. Schereff wardour, see S(c)hiref n. 3 c (2). 1503 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 47.
Patrick Gordoun [illegible] wardar of the lands of Meldrum 1506 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 88.
The lands of Petcapill … ale the tyme of the ward being in the wardars hands 1518 Chart. Coupar A. II 118.
The saidis abbote and conuent … be thare awin aucto[rite] put hand to the saidis Johnnis fysshinge … and put the vardar thair fra 1560 Montgomery Mem. 159.
Archebald Boyll, now vardour of Rysholme 1575 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 40.
Robert … wardour of the lardschip and leving of Lus c1575 Balfour Pract. 251.
The over-lord hes full richt … anent the keiping and ward of the airis of thair tenentis that happinis to deceis, haldand landis of thame in cheif; and swa the over-lord, as wardour, may present ane qualifyit persoun to all … benefices pertening to the air as patron

2. A person suffering confinement, a prisoner. b. Free warder, a person confined to or required to remain in a particular place.(a) 1530 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 327.
That the wardouris now beand in the castell of Edinburgh … remane in ward … apoun thar awin expens 1534 Treas. Acc. VI 207.
Ane charge to the constable of Dunbertane to keip the wardouris weill beand theirin 1536 Treas. Acc. VI 303.
For the expens of certene wardoris plegis of the bordouris for gude rewill 1594 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 46.
That the counsell hous … sal be … keepit for the … conventiones of the counsell … and … that na warders sall be detinit therin 1602 Montrose Treas. Acc. 11a.
For candill to the warders in the tolbuithe counsell hous and stepill c1650 Spalding II 408.
He causit put to libertie the haill wardouris out of the tolbuith(b) 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 38.
To pay to James Nesbett, javellour … for all furnesing maid … to certane … puir wairdouris 1606 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 21.
For the mair suire keiping of the saidis wairdouris and pressoners 1625 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 123.
Wairderis(c) 1571 Bann. Memor. 144.
Did thow not set the werdoris and presoneris committed to thy custodie … at libertie?b. 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 589.]
[Atholl rests still in Canongate a free warder because he as given no surety as he offered

3. = Wardan(e n. 2 b. 1596 Dalr. I 101/22.
Quhen present to mend and bind vp al materis on baith the handes ar baith the warderis [L. præfecti] of the bordiris