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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.

Wevar, Weifer, Weivar, Weave(a)r, Wiver, n. Also: wever, vevar, wewar, -er, weiver, veiver, weyver, weavir, weawer, veavear, wiwer, wyver, vivar, -er, vyver, vywer, wavare, vavare, vowair, weffer, wefter, weifar, wifar, wifir, weeir, vei(e)r, vier, vior. [ME and e.m.E. weuer (Piers Plowman), weyvere (1462), weffer (Cath. Angl.), wayuer (1531), weauer (1532).] A weaver. = Wobstar n. Also with terms indicating specific sorts of weaving. b. attrib.and possess.(1) 1479 Acta Aud. 86/2.
Michell the weffer [pr. wesse] 1622 Glasgow Weavers 68.
Michaell Scot is decernit to deliver to John Clark, weifer, ane beim … borrowit fra the said John ane yeir syne 1622 Glasgow Trades House 102.
Weifar 1650 Glasgow B. Rec. II 518.
Givin to William Browne, wifar, quhen he enterit to the said work to help to indenter him thair quhill the work was maid ready for him 1653 Edinb. Test. Index II 446.
Patrick Young, wefter 1658–1700 Greyfriars Interments 682.
Wifir(b) 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 306.
Wevar 1601 Conv. Burghs II 117.
Cristian de Peill wewar 1640 Edinb. Test. LIX 245a.
Vevar 1681 Dunferm. Hammermen MS 107.
Wewer(c) 1604 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 316.
Gabriell Bischop, Fleming, now resident at Norwich in Ingland [etc.] … sall … instruct all the maister weyvers within the said burgh … in the making of fyne braid claithe and claithe mingled in cullouris [etc.] 1646 Edinb. Test. Index II 32.
Weivar 1653 Glasgow B. Rec. II 270.
Weiver 1656 Dumfries Council Min. MS 7 July.
Veiver 1673 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 13 Sept.
Item more dew to the said John Halliday my weiver [£6](d) 1601 Conv. Burghs II 117.
Weawer 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 378.
Weavearis of this kingdome … do so worke the lynning as it is scairse marcheantable wairis, whereas the yairne haith a present and reddy course 1621 Reg. Great S. 45/1.
Constituendi officiarios, textores lie weaveris, fullones lie plottaris & c. 1622 Misc. Hist. Soc. III 194.
Archebald Ingilis, weavir 1657 Rothesay B. Rec. 15.
Veauear 1662 Stirling B. Rec. I 239.
Ilk weaver is to leave the bounds of a large inch at the end of ilk pair [of plaids] unwafted 1674 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 14 Feb.
To Marioun McCairtney relict of wmquhill John Rae soomtym weawer burges of Kirkcudbright 30 s. Scots money for weaveing(e) 1613 Cranna Fraserburgh 25 (see Prik n. 1 (3).
Vyweres 1638 Glasgow B. Rec. I 388.
The wiveris friemen within this burgh feirit that [etc.] 1644 Edinb. Test. Index II 165.
Viver 1647 Edinb. Test. LXII 378b.
Johne Raith vivar of the seywark 1650 Brechin Presb. 48.
Vyver 1667 Conv. Burghs III 593.
The expres words of the said act doe discharge … all wyvers to make any lining cloath of ten shilling the eln or above vnder the breed of ane elne and tuo inches 1688 Weaver's Acc. Bk. 25 Jan.
Walter Mikeljon wiwer in Shetelstown(f) 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. 199a.
vii ellis of quhyt clait in Nycoll Edȝar vavare hand 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. 208b.
Wavare(g) 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 155.
Quhidder that he had that xxv stane of voll of Voll Ellotis, alias Voll the vowair, or nocht(h) 1658–1700 Greyfriars Interments 11, 22, 43, 367.
Veier … vier … veir … weeir 1698 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 811 (30 June).
[Hugh Cameron,] vior [in Dallmilingtown](2) 1622 Edinb. Test. LI 220b.
Hendrie Stalleires pasment weifar 1648 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 90.
The bonnet and hose wyvers laitlie come to this burgh 1649 Aberd. Council Lett. III 126.
Instructions to Alexander Jaffray … Commissioner to the Parliament … holdin at Edinburgh … item … to try for some of the best wyvers of stuffs 1683 New Mills Manuf. 58.
To … mak ane setllment with the stoking wevers for working … the new fashoned stript hoesb. attrib. 1621 Glasgow Weavers 25.
Johne Allansoune, weifer is actit … to … instruct James Calder in thir four poyntis of his weifer craft 1641 Acts V 446/2.
Ratificatione in favoures of the weiveres [1817 wevaris] of Edinburghe … ane seale of cause granted … to and in favoures of the said deacones [etc.] … of the said weiver tred [etc.] — 1662 Edinb. Test. LXX 366a.
Thrie weaver loomes and all the work loomes belonging thairto worth xviij lib.possess. 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 292.
Brushes … of haire called weaveris brushes the dozen, xxx s. 1673 Leith Customs 40a.
7 dozen weavers brushes 14 s.