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

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

Ester, Eister, Easter, a. Also: estre, estyr, estir; eyster, eistyr, eistir, eistar. [ME. (rare) ester (1387), OE. éastra, éastera, compar. of éast- Est a.] The more easterly of two places, buildings or other things, in contrast to Wester a.

1. In place-names.(a) ? a 1200 Liber Calchou 144.
Ad riuulum de Esterhathou c 1224 Liber Dryburgh 33.
In territorio … de Estyr Fenton 1356 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 752.
Terram meam de Estirfowlys in comitatu de Marre 1358 Rotuli Sc. 819/1.
De villa de Estre softlawe & officio serjantie de Estre warde in Tevydale 1444 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 341.
The landis of Estir Tolmade, Westir Tolmade [etc.] … liand wythin the forsaide baroney 1489 Acta Aud. 127/2.
Landis … liand in the vuer parte of ester Cocherane within the barony of Renfrew(b) 1519 Fife Sheriff Ct. 146.
The thrid parte of the landis of Balglellye eistir 1528 Cal. Chart., Suppl. (Reg. H.).
Thair landis off Eyster Ferme & Wester Farme 1556 Chart. Holy Trin. 120.
The teyndschewiffis of … Eister Vemis 1562 Inverness B. Rec. I. 91.
The teynd sylwer of Eistyr Drakie and Westyr Drakie 1634 Reg. Great S. 46/1.
Terras et baronias de Cullodine, viz. … de lie Wester, Middell et Eister Cullodine

2. In other contexts.(a) 1472 Peebles B. Rec. 169.
Fra the march dik est with al the laf of the ester hyl 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 545 a.
A certane of annuale rentis … of this haill estir land batht bakland and forlande 1506 Douglas Chart. 185.
The landis of the estyr manys of Kirkintullocht 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 531/2.
The keping of the tour and place of Falkland, with the keping of the estir and westir woddis … thairof 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II. 45.
Thay payand … for the teind of the saidis croftis, ester and wester, ane boll … mele [etc.] 1576 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 161.
The ester clostyr dur(b) 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 295.
For … mending of the eister bekin of Leyth 1559 Ib. III. 50.
They fand the eister cheik of the Grayfreir port … failyeit 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 103.
Thai sall compeir … at the eister kirk duir, cleid in saik cleith 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 32.
Alexr. Slowman, … heretour of the wester part of the newfewet partis of the eister mure 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII. 240.
Ane garroun of fyve fute lang. … fixt ane chaft lang in the … eister gavill 1662 Melrose R. Rec. II. 10.
Andro to deliver to the said William his eister incraft butt(c) 1641 Acts V. 560/2.
The … easter halfe of the … toune & landis of … Riris 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 304.
In the Easter Tower. Item ane bedsteed [etc.]

3. The eister seas, the Baltic.(b) 1582 Conv. Burghs I. 140.
Ilk serpleth gudes to Danskyne and the eistar seais to be estimatt be the tun 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII. 75.
Aucht barrellis hering quhilk he hes send … to the eister seyis 1594–5 Misc. Spald. C. V. 118.
The skipper … of ane schip that com furtht of the Eister Seis with rye and rye meill 1629 Brechin Test. IV. 358 b.
In ventour with Thomas Auchinleek to the eister seas j^c lib. in money(c) 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 277.
The pure man … Maid sayle syne to the Easter sees 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Serplaith.
The merchandes vsis to pay fraucht … to Danskene, and the Easter Seas, be the serplath 1645 Conv. Burghs IV. 554.
The lyke [duty] for ilk last of goods comeing from the easter seas

b. The easter fleit, vessels engaged in the Baltic trade. 1660 Conv. Burghs III. 511.
That convoyis be sent to the Sound wher it is not to be doubtit but the easter fleit ar now lying waiting at Elsinnore