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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Posito(u)r(e, n. Also: possit(t)-; posot- and -er. [L. positor one who places, agent noun f. posit-, p.p. stem of pōnere to place: cf. med. L. (Brit.) posito to lay out, spend (money) (1199, c 1400), impose (taxation) (1217).Cf. also e.m.E. positor one who gives security for another (1584), one who posits, maintains or affirms (1598).]

1. The treasurer or box-master (of a corporation). Also attrib.Only in east Fife, and in Perth Hammermen. In the latter until 1559 the treasurer is always referred to as the compositour. 1494 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 583.
The mone beand nowmerit & lokkit in ane boxis & deliuerit to the positoure of the said burgh of Cowpir 1552 Crail B. Ct. 16 Oct.
Ihone [blank] positour for the tyme made the compt of the comone gud to the … nychtbowris in the towboucht of Crell 1557 St. A. Baxter Bks. 10.
James Hay, lawfull prentis to Villem Rynd, … examinyt be Dauid Mylis, positor, … vith oderis dywers schosyng be the decane to that effect, is admyt maister to the craft of baxterye 1559 Perth Hammermen 90.
Deliverit to Andro Thorskaill now possitour to the said craft 1577 St. A. Baxter Bks. 25.
Dauid Myllis, kepar [of] the commoun kist kee, Johnne Lausoun, positor for ane ȝeir 1581 Ib. 28.
That ilk furnesar gadder the quarteris pamment … and deliuer the samyn to the positor 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 16 Dec. (St. Andrews); 1594 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXIV 33.
To pay to Walter Ramsay positour to the hammer men of this citie xxv s. within xv dayis 1643 St. A. Baxter Bks. 113.
[A meeting] for hearing and cognosching vpone the positouris comptis for the last ȝeir bygane 1652 Ib. 122.
For the quhich the traid renderis the decan and positor heartie thankis 1653 Cupar Trades 2 Oct.
Possitter 1654 Ib. 3 Oct.
David Gairdner fleshare merchant was positor to the conveinar for the preceiding yeir maid his compt of his intromissione Ib. 9 Oct.
That ilk new deacon conveinar shall pey to the positer of his counsall 4 lib. Ib. 10 Oct.
At ther ellectione … the conweinaris positor shall pay 30 s … .and the positor of ilk craft auchtein shilling scottis [to the deacon convener] 1682 Ib. 3 Oct.
Conuineris posotourattrib. 1639 St. A. Baxter Bks. 105.
The positour comptis of craft … wer hard sene and allowit 1664 Ib. 129, etc.
David Broun his positor comptis … ar fund treu and cleir

2. ? A printer's compositor or type-setter.Cf. e.m.E. compositor id. (1569). c1550-c1580 Art of Music 34 b.
Be canones exprimand the name of the feit of ewerry verse at the will of the positor to be collocat, as Dactalus and his fallowis