A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
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Occupyar, -iar, n. Also: -yare, -iare, -yer, -ear, -eyar, -eir, -yo(i)r, ocupyar. [ME. occupier (1387–8), -iour, e.m.E. occupier, -yer. Cf. also Occupar.]
1. One who seizes or holds (land) by force or by usurpation; one who appropriates property wrongfully. 1456 Hay I. 105/28.
Nevertheles I say nocht na, quhenever it lykis the Emperoure to mak were apon the occupiaris of thai landis … that the Pape will hynder thame 1555 Acts II. 494/2.
The actioun aganis the violent occupyaris and possessouris foirsaidis 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 5.
Sik personnis as beis fund onlauchfull, to wit, occupeiris in stouth, in stelying of keyll, eldyng [etc.]
2. One who occupies (land, a building, a fishing), in sense 2 of Occupy v.; an occupier or tenant.(1) 1491 Acta Aud. 155/2.
Thai haf … maid him occupiare of the saidis landis 1496 Acta Conc. II. 41.
The proffit and maile of the saidis landis to remane in the tennandis handis, occupyaris of the ground 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 68.
Occupearis 1533–4 Ib. 106. 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII. 361.
The saidis tenentis and occupyaris 1557 Peebles B. Rec. I. 238.
To caus the officeris … destrenye the reddyest guddis of the tennentis and occupiaris of the hillis of Caidmuir 1563 Acts II. 540/1.
That na kyndlie lauchfull … occupyar of ony of the saidis kirk landis be remouit 1567 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 161. c 1567 Liber Calchou 518. a1578 Pitsc. I. 163/31. 1591 Montg. Suppl. 310. 1595 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 160.
Occupearis 1600 Glasgow Chart. II. 572.
The loynes of the Garnegadhill … diminisit be the occupeyares possessouris and heritouris thairof 1603–4 Ayr B. Acc. 221.
[58 acres] quhairof the occupiaris is nocht weill knawin 1609 Argyll Rentals 9 Oct.
Donald McPhetris occupyer of ane half penny land 1622-6 Bisset I. 299/21.
Occupyare c1650 Spalding I. 64.
How the McGrigour … cam to the toun … of Avache … and violentlie … callit away fra thrie pure tennantis occupearis thairof thair haill hors [etc.] 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 160 (26 Nov.).
The said complainar hes … desirt the said William McMillane pretendit tenant and ocupyar foirsaid to have flit … frae the foirnamit lands(2) 1538 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 88.
The officeris to pas poynd and distrenyie all and sindrie the flescheouris occupyaris of the standis of thair flescheous 1540 Ib. 99.
The nychtbouris occupearis of the commoun buthis pertenyng to the gude toun 1544 Reg. Cupar A. II. 223.
At the ische of relict of Jhone Smytht and Jhone Gyb, occupyaris of the samyn [mill] now instantlie 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 279. 1593 Ib. V. 87. 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 270.
Possessouris and occupeares of his two mercheant boothes(3) 1467 Reg. Dunferm. 358.
The fisching of the Calate … and the maloris and the occupyoris of jt 1550 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 451.
Payand … thre pundis money … for the fisching of the same or ane barroll salmond in the optioun of the occupyoiris 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 286.
Occupiaris 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 41.
Occupearis
3. One who enjoys (the freedom of a burgh). 1472 Edinb. Chart. 135.
Gif ony outeburges or occupiaris of the fredome of the said burgh dissobeis or refusis to help
4. One who engages in, practises, plies (a trade). 1517 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 170.
Ilk maister and occupear of the said craft 1559 Ayr B. Acc. lxxxv.
[Guild-court fines were due … for offences against the merchants' privileges … committed by] unfremen occupyaris of merchandice
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"Occupyar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 25 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/occupyar>
