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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Strikar, -er, n. Also: strikare, strykar, -er, -ear, -our, stricker, strycker, strikkere, -oure, strekar, -er, streiker, (stricklere, stricwie). [ME and e.m.E. stryker (Piers Plowman), strikar (c1410), striker (1581); Strik(e v.]

1. One who strikes a person or animal; a fighter. Also applied to an animal. Also prest strykar, one who has struck a priest.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 6651.
In all this warld nouthir heir nor thair Sik ane striker with suerd nocht war c1520-c1535 Nisbet John xviii 23 marg.
As he [sc. Christ] teachit, Math. v.: he offered nocht only his cheik, bot his hail body vnto the strykers c1520-c1535 Nisbet Titus i 7.
For it behuvis a bischop to be without crime … nocht wrathfull … nocht a strikare [W., P. smytere; L. percussorem] 14.. Acts (1597) Table s.v. Oxen.
Oxen hochers, and strickers of them 1605 Crim. Trials II 481.
The said Williame wes the principall strykear and murdreisar of the said vmquhile Alexander with his awin hand 1606 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 28.
The said Thomas … [was] the first strykar ovir the hedge betwix the ȝairdis be first strykand the said Henrie with ane trie 1612 Dundonald Par. Rec. 230.
Adam Quhyt … , stryker of his brother sone on the Saboth 16.. Hist. Kennedy 71.
Hew Kennedy … was ane strekar off the Laird of Bargany 1628 Pastor and Prelate 18.
He must not be a branler, stryker, nor fighter 1707 Dunkeld Presb. II 293.
Finally, the lybel charges me as being a striker, and, for proveing it, gives only one instance 1719 Life and Death of Sharp (1719) 141.
Forgetting that a bishop should not be a stricker(2) a1538 Abell 9*b .
Prest strykaris ar havyly pvnyst be King Conwallis law(3) 1596 Dalr. I 123/7.
Quhen nout fechtis togither ane be strukne to deid, na man knaweng the stryker, the beist that is hommil amang thame judge giltie of the slachtir

2. One who coins (money). 'The officials were the warden (custos monete) and the master moneyer (magister monetarium) assisted by printers and strikers (operarii)'. R. W. Cochran-Patrick Records of the Coinage of Scotland, from the earliest period to the Union (1876) I xvii.(a) 1449 Acts II 37/1.
At all fals strikaris of gold & siluer & of fals grotis & pennys be … brocht to the king to be punyst 1451 Acts II 40/2.
That … traist sworne men pas furth & resaif al the yrnis of the kingis strikaris 1451 Acts II 40/2.
At the prentaris & strikaris be na goldsmythis and vtheris may be gottyn 1510 Crim. Trials I i 66.
Item, gif thair be ony strikaris of false money? 1635 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VI 2.
Forgers, strikers and printers of thir false and counterfoote dollers 1639 Acts V 598/2.
The strykouris of all fals turnouris to be punished with death(b) 1687 Mackenzie Observ. 43.
The strickers of false coyn to be punished as law will(c) 1685 Edinb. City Archives Letters II (39).
They … appoynted the Register (who was the great stricklere first in it and the greatest pretender to the knowledge therof [sc. the mint])

3. One who strikes an object. 1632 Justiciary Cases I 205.
Nather the said Williams … nor Robert … his sone was the streker of the said golf ball

4. One who sets or agrees (a fixed price for grain). 1674 Glasgow B. Rec. III 184.
To give fourtie penneis doune to the tennentis of Provand of ilk boll of beir of the Provand fier … in respect the same was promist to them by the stryckers therof quhen the said fear was strukin

5. In senses connected with mining. a. ? One who operates, raises and lowers (a bucket). b. ? One who is employed in drainage (of water from mine workings). c. ? One who has some other function in a mine, or ? a further instance of a or b.a. 1684 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 24 April.
To the striker of the bucattb. 1685 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 3 Oct.
For burring of Ja: Bell ane of the striker of the water who was lost in the sinkc. 1689 Hist. Fam. Seton 999.
That the coall greaves heikers and streikers vnder and above ground with the callers of the gin observe the rules given be us in relatione to the regulating and takeing in the tikets of the coall and wood boxes and gin

6. A type of dog. Cf. Strekour n. 1622 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 147.
You must … find him [sc. the king] out another strikkoure lyke to Swallye; he wold not geve that dogg for onye thing 1623 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 185.
Strikkere 1624 Mar & Kellie MSS 123.
He wos sory your Lordships halks he sent yow were so misgeydit, and he wald faine have an wther stricwie [? erron. for stricure] for Sually is becoming auld