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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.

(Weltir,) Welter, -ar, Wal(l)ter, Woltir, -er, n. [Late ME and e.m.E. walter (Destr. Troy), welter (1619).] An upheaval, an overturning (of ideas, institutions, etc.). b. lit.An overturning (of a cart). Only proverb. 1563 Randolph in Cal. Sc. P. II 5.]
[Yf ther come such a volter in thys realme that ever that man come agayne into credyt(a) 1562-3 Winȝet I 49/22.
Sa subdane a wolter of this warlde in sa mony grete materis 1558-66 Knox II 352.
The abbot … took upoun him to prove that Melchisedeck offered bread and wyne unto God, … But in the travaill of thre dayis thair could no prooff be produced … The Papistis constantlie looked for a wolter, and thairfoir thei wold maid some bragg of reassonyng 1596 Dalr. II 221/4.
He spak mekle of the woltir of the religioune [L. de religione apud nos evertenda](b) 1570 Warrender P. MS 130(7).
The tuther syde hes bene sa lang in possessioun of the state … quhill the welter come 1596 Dalr. II 277/14.
He feiret be that coniunctione suld follow sum welter in the religioune, casting doune of the kirkes, monasteries and siklike(c) a1578 Pitsc. I 63/1.
The earle of Douglas so covatus … to promove his freindis … for the strenghen of his awin house quhair throw he suddenlie thocht to mak ane bar to the king him self gif thair chancit ony wallter of court and thairfor ewerie man iudgit that suddand … succes sould haue ane schort end a1578 Pitsc. I 136/2.
They ar so warieabill … that they desyre nothing more nor ane great man that wald of the present estait begun the walter [I. to waltir] as may weill be knawin be Henrie of Irelandb. proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1706) 275.
If I can get his cairt at a weltar, I shall lend it a put