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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.

Prechour, Preicho(u)r, Preachour , n. Also: prechoure, -owr, -eour(e, -ore, -ur(e; preschour; preicheour; priechour; preacheour, preatchour, -eour. [ME prechure (Ancr. R.), -our(e (1305), (north.) -eour (c 1325), (north.) preichour (14th c.), prechor(e (1297), e.m.E. prechour, preachour (1530), OF prech(e)or. Cf. Prechar.]

1. One who preaches a sermon or sermons; chiefly, one whose occupation it is to preach, a minister of the church licensed to preach.Latterly applied chiefly to the ministers of the Reformed Church.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii 636.
The name of felone Sawle West turnyt in to prechore Paule Ib. i 673.
Prechour Ib. xxxii 635.
Prechoure c1420 Wynt. viii 2561.
Thair ost for to comfwrt thare, Ilke ane off tha before the stowre Worthyd be wordis a prechoure [C. precheoure] 1456 Hay I 12/15.
To lollardis and fals prechouris Ib. 8/8. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1924 (Bann.).
The halye precheour … Exortand men to [etc.] a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 707 (Asl.).
The antecrist … His pursewantis prophettis & prechouris can compere c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 78/13.
Or be his angell or be the prechour or gud counsell Id. Mir. I 162/5.
Sanct Paule, the gret prechour Ib. II 9/38. 1531 Bell. Boece II 125. 1533 Gau 80/60. a1538 Abell 9* b.
Prechuris vmquhyl in Scotland wes he prelatis 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 52.
To wryt to my lord protectoris grace for ane prechour callit Jhon Rocht 1549 Compl. 25/10.
The men of veyr, the iugis, the precheours 15.. Lichtoun Bann. MS. 48 a/42.
Compleit thy pennans gevin by the prechour 1558–9 Ayr B. Acc. 130.
[Riding to Edinburgh … and bringing home] ane precheour 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 177/6 (G).
Prechores Ib. 151/3. 1561–2 Reg. Privy C. I 202. 1562-3 Winȝet I 10/14.
Be ane part of ȝour nobilitie and ȝoure prechouris Ib. 49/2.
At the command of Dene Patrik Kinloquhy, precheour in Linlythgow 1558-66 Knox II 420.
Aganis the pure prechouris 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 127/1.
Maister Andro Davidsoun, precheoure 1571 Sat. P. xxix 13.
The soutar is the grett prechour 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III 132.
Specially concerning the ministres of the kirk, that none be promoved, before he be … bachelour in theologie, to be a precheour or preist 1581 Sat. P. xliv 215.
Prechour 1604 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 102.
Precheour(b) a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 51.
To be preschour to the kingis grace, as he allegit(c) 1490 Irland Mir. II 143/12.
Be haly scriptur and preichouris c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 121.
Than till ane preichour trew thow pas 1540 Id. Sat. 2899.
Ane bischops office is for to be ane preichour 1567 G. Ball. 160. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 401.
With mony wemen, quhilk ȝit war na preicheouris 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 248. 1582 Declar. Causis 10.
The mouthis of preichoris hes bene stoppit Ib. 11.
Godly priechouris(d) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 146/12.
The pestilent preacheouris puft vp with vayne glore c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii 47. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
Office of preachour or techour in the kyrk 1637 Fugitive Poetry II xii 2/20.
Sinceir preachours 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 266.
Our preachours sermons

b. Const. of what is preached or against what is opposed or decried. Also transf. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xi (O.U.P.) 23.
Be of ȝour lufe no prechour as a freir 1567 G. Ball. 6.
Grantit to the trew preicheouris of Goddis word 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 100.
Ane maist trew preichour of the Lordis word a1578 Pitsc. II 139/12.
Preachouris 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 78/34.
Prechouris of disobedience aganis natiue princes 1600-1610 Melvill 32.
Mr. Patrik Constantine … becam a zealus preatchour against bischopes 1617 Melrose P. 301.
Preatcheours

c. transf. One who delivers a harangue, or argues a case, at length, a pertinacious arguer. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 611 (W).
Quod Will, ‘Thrie prechours [v.rr. preichouris, preachers] to perswad The poyssonit slae to pow. Thay trattell … Ane lang halfe houre and mair'

2. pl. Chiefly Frer(is Prechouris, also Brethir Prechouris: The order of Preaching or Dominican Friars. = Predicato(u)r n. 1.(1) 1411 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 45.
Till the Freris Prechouris of Are c1420 Wynt. viii 1186.
In till Ingland he tuk tyte Off the Frere Prechowris the habyte 1438 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 48. 1454 Liber Coll. Glasg. 176.
And … the priour and covent of the Freris Prechouris 1467 Ayr B. Ct. 21 April.
Priour of the Freris Prechouris of Sanct Katryn(2) a1538 Abell 3* a.
Brethir prechuris com fyrst in Scotland Ib. 8* b.
Ordur of brethir minoris & prechurris begutht(3) 1454 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 14.
Ws the prior and the conuent of the Freris of Glasgw of the ordour of the Prechouris 1473 Lanark & R. 194.
Frere John Mure, wicar generall of the ordour of prechouris a1538 Abell 93 b.
& gret Albert of the orduris of prechuris