Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ogthiern, Oghtierne, Ochtyern, Ogethearn, Ogettheyrn, Ochiern, n. [Sc. and Ir. Gael. òg-thighearna young lord, chief's son, lordling.] In the early laws, one ranking with the son or grandson of a thane. — 1220 Acts I. 68/1.
Debet rex solus habere forisfactum scilicet de thano vj vaccas … , de oghtierne [tr. of ane ochtyern] xv oves vel sex solidos ? a 1300 Ib. 299/1.
Le cro nepotis vnius thani vel vnius ogthiern [F. ogettheyrn, tr. ogethearn] est [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v.
[Ochiern, Ogetharius [? read Ogethanus], is ane name of dignitie and of ane freehalder … and appeiris to be of equall honor … with the son or daughter of ane thane [etc.] 1687 Mackenzie Observ. 3.]
This ochiern is by Skeen called a freeholder; but I find by many old evidents that an ochiern is a chief of the branch of a great family, who has a considerable command