Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

For(e)-, Foirhammer, n. Also: foirhamer, -hamber. [Northern e.m.E. fore hamer (1543), but chiefly Sc.] A sledge-hammer.(a) 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 194.
Thai said … thai suld cum with foir hammeris and strik vp the durris of his hous 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 65.
Thai brocht foir hamberis and dang vp the … tolbuith dure perforce 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 59 b.
He … lewis … to … John Thomsoun … his irne studie, belleis, and foirhammer 1619 Ib. L. 213 b.
Ane foir hammer price tuelf schillingis 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 272.
Braking wp the dore of the said Alexanders hous with ane foir hamer 1682 Lanark B. Rec. 208.
Having … during that tyme bracken up the croce with foir hammers(b) 1588 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 520.
Ane greitt number of craftis childer quha come to the yett … with ane jest and fore hammer to haif strukin vp the samyn c 1631 Rutherford Lett. 37.
The fair chief cornerstone … got many a knock with his father's forehammer, & endured thame all 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 142.
Having brocken oppen the gattes with forhammers, they entered the said house