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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.

Forestar(e, Forester, n. Also: forrestare, -ter. [ME. forester, -ere (c 1300), OF. forestier, med. L. forestarius. See also Forstar(e n.]

1. The keeper of a forest.(a) a 1144 Liber Calchou 153.]
[Archebaldo forestar' 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 294.
The forsaid Alexander sall hafe euirmare the sete of a forestar frely in Badarach 1404 Ib. II. 140.]
[Magistro Waltero Forestare, canonico … , secretario nostro a1500 Rauf C. 195.
The forestaris … of this forest … haue me all at inuy, for dreid of the deir 1486 Exch. R. IX. 614.
Forestaris and currouris of our said forest to mak be callit 1513 Reg. Privy S. I. 379/2.
A lettre … makand thaim … forestaris of the forestis of Dernway 1548 Reg. Cupar A. II. 55.
Give ony of thame … cuttis or distroyis ony of our said wod, without thai be conveyit thairto be our forestaris, … it salbe tinsall of thair takkis 1614 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 410.
That the said Schir Duncan … place forestar, and interteinnie fallowe deir, within the said ill [= isle] 1641 Acts V. 543/2.
The office of forrestare(b) 1330 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 140.
[Terram Regis quam tenuit Nevi Forester 1362 Exch. R. II. 100.]
Compotum … Roberti Forrester 1478 Acta Aud. 63/1.
The dochter and aire of vmquhile Johne Currour, forester, burges of Edinburgh 1509 Fam. Rose 180.
My forester of alland sundry my forestis 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 73.
Reservand … tuay acris of outfeild land … to be gevin to our forester for keping of the wod 1578 Glenartney Doc.
To be markat and brint by our forrester of our said forrest to that effect

b. Attrib. with stede. 1423 (1426) Reg. Great S. 11/2.
Twa forestar stedis wythin Schutynle warde 1457 Exch. R. VI. 370.
Cum dimideo dictorum forestaris stedis in warda de Etrik 1473 Ib. VIII. 142.
De proficuis … locorum dictorum foresteris stedis … infra dictam wardam de Yarow

2. A forest-dweller. 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 62.
The landwart folkis and dowr foresteris all Ib. ix. xi. 23.
Quham Hybera, the wild foresteres knaw, Bred and vpbrocht