Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Prentar, n. Also: -are, -air, -er(e, prenttare, prainter. [e.m.E. prenter (1504): cf. Printer.]

1. The workman in the mint who stamped the impression on the coin by striking it or pressing it with the dies. 1451 Acts II 40/2.
At the prentaris & strikaris be na goldsmythis and vtheris may be gottyn 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 556.
And all meltaris forgearis and prentaris within the said cunyehous … to do thair diligence in melting forgeing and prenting of the saidis pecis 1572–3 Treas. Acc. XII 255.
Payit for coillis to the prentaris to strike doun the saidis irnis xl s. 1579 Reg. Privy S. VII 321/1. 1612 Acts IV 488/2.
Prenters

2. A printer of books. a. The owner of a printing (often also a publishing) business. b. A workman engaged in printing books.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece Excus. Prentar ii.
I the prentar … Desiris nocht bot on my laubour leil That I mycht leif 1540 Acts II 379/1.
It sall nocht be lesum to ony vther prentar nor writar to imprent … the samin [acts of parliament] 1551 Ib. 488/2. 1559 Reg. Privy S. V i 144/1.
Als weill prentaris, buke sellaris as utheris personis 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 134.
[The] little treatie [which was] stayed at the prentar 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 44. 1587 Acts III 521/2.
Be errour of the prentair 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 225/218.
The prentairis lettiris settis 1593 Reg. Privy C. V 110.
Sic writtaris … as hes bene commendit unto thame be the prentaris or buiksellaris 1596 Dalr. II 467/33.
He was busie with the prenter in setting furth a buik 1622-6 Bisset I 71/17.
Thomas Davidsone … wes admittit his hienes prenttare 1641 Acts V 364/1.
Prenters to the kingis most excellent majestie 1644 Ib. VI i 257/2.
Off being his majesties sole and onlie prenteres(2) 1547 Reg. Privy C. I 69.
To tak and apprehend Johne Scott, prentar 1563 Edinb. B. Rec. III 170.
Prenter 1576 Reg. Privy S. VII 94/1.
Thomas Bassindyne, prentare and burges 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII 362 b.
Johne Ross prentair 1601 Misc. Maitl. C. I 22.
To Mr. Robert Charteris prainter for the imprainting of the treatise