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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.

Murtherar, Murth(o)ur-, Murthrar, Murderar, n. Also: -are, -er(e, murtherair, murthirar, -er, murthorar, -er; mwrderar, mourderar, murdiror, murdrer, morderer. [ME. and e.m.E. murtherer(e (Cursor M.), mortherer(e (14–15th c.), mord-, murderour (14–15th c.), murderer (16th c.), mordroure, moerdrer, murdrer(e (14–15th c.), moord(e)rare (15th c.), partly f. Murther n.¹ and partly AF. mordreour, murdreour, -drere, agent n. f. mordrer, mordrir, Murther v.] A murderer. = Murther n.², Murdrissar n.Also const. of the victim or victims and in King-murtherer, Man-murtherar.Also once appar. without, or with less, opprobrium, a slayer, one who kills (another).(a) a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 392.
Jubitere Ves the name of a murtherere & of a kyd houllore c1420 Wynt. viii. 3204.
The lawche he gert thame suffyre thare As murthrarys off the kyngis men thai ware Ib. iv. 1579.
Murtheraris Ib. vii. 88.
Murtherere 14.. Acts I. 347/2.
All … murtheraris of men outhir rychtwisly or vnrychtwisly sall nocht mak suyte oppinly 1456 Hay II. 29/7.
Murtherar 1527 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 377.
Ane of the murtheraris of vmquhile Alexander Seytoun Ib. 573.
In … taking … of oure rebellis theiffis revaris sornaris and murtheraris 15.. Clar. iii. 594.
Fy on the murtherers! fy on the false trasoun! 1560 Knox II. 109. Bk. Disc. 231. 1567 Sat. P. ii. 2.
It is not aneuch the pure King is deid, Bot the mischant murtheraris occupand his steid 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 521.
The cheif murtherare being present Ib. 545. 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 539.
Murtherair 1570 Sat. P. xx. 11.
Murtherars 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 22.
Quhair we wer altogidder estemit ane people murtherare of kingis Ib. 33. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 14.
That murtherer and knawin adultres called the quene a1585 Maitl. Q. xvi. 10.
Ane murtherar of innocentis 1570 Leslie 150.
Ane publicque murthourar 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 317.
Murthoreris a1578 Pitsc. I. 15/13.
He … that was the grettest briggane, theiff or murtherar Ib. 100/27.
The King was bot ane blodie murtherar of his awin bloode Ib. 25/6.
Murthiraris Ib. 210/32.
Murthuraris Ib. 207/28. 1585 Rep. Sir R. Menzies MSS. 693.
Murtherarris 1596 Dalr. I. 33/15. Ib. 122/12.
Murthireris 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. MS. 50.
Lawis … annent foirstallaris theiffis murthoraris 1612 Highland P. III. 122.
The most biudie and violent murthourar and oppressour of all that damned race 1648 Brechin Presb. 6.
George Black, murtherer, … confessing the abominable sin of murther, began his repentance c1650 Spalding I. 205.
As ane renegat lymmar, bloodschedder and murtherar(b) (c 1580) Alex. ii. 9611.
Thow that lufit theuis and murderers And hated all trew bachlers 1456 Hay II. 29/37.
Gif a knycht mysgovernis him in syk kynde that he be outhir thef or traytour revare or murderar 1490 Irland Mir. II. 142/19.
Sone eftir the euill murderaris and briggantis tuk thame and put thame to deid 1494 Loutfut MS. 7 b.
Traitouris fals reportouris and wnlele murdreris c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 329. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5726. 1567 Sat. P. vii. 170 (see Murther n.¹ 1 c (2)).
Murderers of kingis
Mourderar a1578 Pitsc. I. 48/23. 1582–3 Perth B. Ct. 9 Feb.
To vnderly the lawis for the samin as ane plane murderar a1586 Lindsay MS. 16 b.
Mwrderaris 1603 Inverness Rec. II. 17.
All except murdiroris, revers, oppressors [etc.] 1606 Stewart Mem. 119.
Mordereres of the vmquhill Johne Stewart

b. Hyperbolically and fig. — 1558-66 Knox I. 62.
Those murtheraris the Gray Frearis Ib. 334.
Baith traytouris to the treuth … and murtheraris of us Ib. II. 398.
A bischope that … feidis not the flock … is boith a theif and a murderare