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.

Querestar, Querister, Queiristar, Quiristar(e, n. Also: queirstar, quirester, quirister, -our. [ME queristre (c 1360), querester (Trevisa), late ME (north.) -ur (Towneley Plays), e.m.E. querister (1550), quirister (1584), and also coruster (1563), chorister (Spenser), quorister (1602), AF cueristre, med. L. querestar- (c 1440): cf. Querist.] A member of a church choir, a church-chorister; also, a member of the chapter of a cathedral or a collegiate church.Also comb. in querister-boy.(a) 1518 Perth Hammermen 5.
The queirstaris that sang mess on Sanct Eloyis day in the kirk 1527 Rankin St. A. Ch. 133.
As procurator of the queir and queiristaris of the parich kirk 1540–1 Linlithgow B. Ct. 17 Jan.
As ws and consuetude wsit … in the said kirk and queir be the querestaris of the sammyncomb. 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal Hist. 293.
To the dean and chapter of Salisburie, to be distributed by them … to the querister boyes of that church(b) 1572 Reg. Privy S. VI 305.
The landis of Deinstoun … pertenis to the commonis kirk and quiristares of Dunblane a1578 Pitsc. (1814) 605.
Ane antheame was sung be the quiresteris of the church to the musick of loud instrumentis c1646 Crauford Edinb. Univ. in Mill Mediaev. Plays 217.
A considerable number of quiresters of choise singing voices a1650 Row 307.
Quiristers a1651 Calderwood VII 244.
Beside the place which was prepared for the organs, and the quiristours to sing 1680 Copy of a Letter by Mr. John Dickson when he was Prisoner in the Bass (1717) 5.
Among the glorious quiresters in the kingdom of heaven 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II 818.
A popish quirister a1688 Wallace Orkney 58.