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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Murdriss-, Murdres(s)ar, Murthresar, n. Also: murthorsar; murdreis(s)ar; murderissar, -izar, -aser. [Murdris v.]

1. A murderer. = Murtherar n. c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 106.
Till Dauid the murthorsar and adultrare ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/2.
We cursis … all commonde theiffis rewaris murthresaris of leill mennis gudis 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 268.
Common traitouris reyffaris theyffis murderizaris and men slayaris 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 363.
Men murdresaris and commoun theiffis In to that court gat all releiffis c1536 Id. Compl. Bagsche 25.
Ane murdreissar of mony ane dog 1531 Bell. Boece I. 215.
The treasonabil murdresar Carance 1533 Boece viii. vi. 260.
Inemyis that war dispitefull and cruell murdrissaris erare than robust and curtes weriouris 1540 Elgin Rec. I. 53.
Calland him murdressar of his awin gossop 1559 Inverness Rec. I. 36.
Saing to hyme commond theff and murderissar of Clan Chattan and slachterrar of tham (a1570-86 Dunb.) Maitl. F. x. 43 (see Murtherar n. b.).
Murderaser a1568 Weddirburne Bann. MS. 279 b/79. 1605 Crim. Trials II. 481.
The said Williame wes the principall strykear and murdreisar of the said umquhile Alexander with his awin hand

2. A type of small cannon used on ships.Common in e.m.E. (1497–) as murderer, morderer, murtherer: ‘they are mostly used at sea at the bulk-heads of the forecastle, half-deck or steeridge, in order to clear the decks when an enemy boards the ship’. 1549 Compl. 41/34.
Mak reddy ȝour cannons [etc.] … hede stikkis, murdresaris, pasuolans [etc.]