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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Kers(e, n.¹ [Of uncertain origin. Cf. Cars, Kars, n.] A stretch of low alluvial land along the banks of a river; a carse. (Chiefly in place-names.) 1375 Barb. xii. 392.
Thair thai [the English army] herbryit thame that nycht Doune in the kers [sc. of Stirling] Ib. 395.
In the kers pollis [= pools] ther war 1392 Reg. Great S. (1814) 204/2.
Omnes … terras baronie & dominij del Kers … infra vicecomitatum de Striuelyne 1451 Exch. R. V. 474.
De le Braa et Kerse de Kambus c1475 Wall. v. 319.
Our thwort the Kers to the Torwode he ȝeide 1484 Acta Aud. *133/1.
Be Asplane of Crafurde of the Kers 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 289/2.
The gift of … the landis of the Kers … callit in tymes bigane the Kers of Innes, … liand within … the schirefdome of Elgin 1577 Hay Nobility 14.
The best landes … in the Kers of Gowrye 1633 Acts V. (1870) 98/1.
Togider with all the lands of the said burgh of Inuernes … and comoun lands callit the Kerse 1675 Stirling Common Good 94 b.
For taking vp and doune the slip when the way in the Kerss was mendingattrib. 1611 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 93.
Certane aikers within the kers land of Urquhat 1623 Reg. Great S. 225/1.
Terras de Kersheade, cum lie merchrig. pratis lie Coull-kers et aliis kersis hujusmodi 1716 Stirling B. Rec. II. 147.
[He] was necessitat … to send the most part of malt … to the kersemilns of Polmais