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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.

Subchantour, -or, -er, n. Also: -chantur, -schantour, -canto(u)r. [OF sou(b)chantre (OED), e.m.E. subchaunter (1546), also earlier sub-chauntress (15th c.); sub- and Chantour n., Chanter n.] A precentor's deputy, a succentor. = Succento(u)r n.Freq., of a named diocese, cathedral, etc.(1) 1484 Acta Conc. I *89/2.
The violent and cruel takin and handling of Sir Dauide Purdy subchantour of Glasgw 1537 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 412.
Maister Alexander Kyd subchantour of Aberdene 1545 Rec. Earld. Orkney 228.
The sele of ane venerabill clerk, Schir Magnus Strang, subchantour of Orknay 1552 Rec. Earld. Orkney 246.
Subschantour 1552 Rec. Earld. Orkney 247.
Subchanter 1559 Dunbar Moray Doc. 51.
Maister Alexander Dunbar, subcantour of Murray 1562–3 Reg. Privy S. V i 340/1.
Schir Johnne Fethy, subchantour of hir chappell ryall of Striviling 1579 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 400.
Subchantur(2) 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 194.
All denis, archdenis, subdenis, chantouris, subchantouris, provestis, personis, vicaris [etc.] 1583 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. IV 170.
His subscription suld supplie … the place of the subchantor becaus the subchantorie was dotit to the colledge befoir the daitt of the tak 1595 Orkney Rentals ii 58.
Bikquoy 6 d. terre, perteining to the subchanter 1600 Elgin Rec. II 86.
George Cuming sall go speik the chantour, subchantour, and remanentis personis playeris at the futball yisterday 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 53.
In tymes by past, Maister Jeherome Tulloche, subcantor, haid the chairge of boith the kirkis 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 360.
With us the sub-chanter is a dignity called succentor in the canon law(3) possess. c1650 Spalding I 74.
The Marquess corpis … is careit to the eist port, doun the subchantouris wynd to the south kirk styll of the colledge kirk