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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stanch(e)our, Staincheo(u)r, Stencher, Sta(i)nȝeour, n. Also: stanche(o)r, -ir, -s(c)hour, -schur, -s(s)our, stauncher, stainchowr, -er, -tor, staineschoore, stenchor, stanyeour. [? Altered form of Stancheo(u)n n. Cf. e.m.E. stauncher (once, a1500) a case for an inkhorn, = late ME stanchon (1405-6), staunchon (Prompt. Parv.). For forms in ȝ cf. Stanchall n.]

1. One of a number of iron bars fixed in the framework of a window, partly, perhaps, for support, but chiefly for security. b. Similarly, a support or means of closing off an opening in other situations.(a) c1475 Wall. iv 507.
Out off wyndowis stanssouris all thai drew Full gret irne wark in to the wattir threw 1515 Treas. Acc. V 12.
For four stane irne in stanchouris maid to my lord governouris chalmour window 1516 Exch. R. XIV 174.
Pro emptione le stansouris ad diversas fenistras 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 113.
Franche gaddis for stanschouris to wyndois of the stabillis; … to the smyth … for cutting of the said gaddis in viii stanchouris 1543 Treas. Acc. VIII 188.
For lokkis, keyis, stancheouris of windois and uther irne wark 1580 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 309.
For thrie irne stancheouris to the under vindo and four glassing bandis to the uvir vindo 1602–3 Ayr B. Acc. 215.
Stancheris 1617–18 Dumbarton Common Gd. Acc. 18.
Stancheors 1621 Barcaldine Inv.
Item in the said loft four windowis with caist half brottit with thair stanshouris and maskis and glassit haill 1626–7 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 204.
For four boittit stancheris for the hous in the abbay that keipes the kingis veschell 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 7.
Staunchers 1672 Mylne Master Masons 177.
Takeing out of the iron stanchers and grates out of the windoores(b) 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 216.
For … staincheouris maid to office houssis 1563 Montgomery Mem. 197.
Tua glas windois furnist with irne staincheoris 1578–9 Haddington Treas. Acc.
Irne to be stainchtoris to the north windo. For cutting and scogin the staincheouris to the haill hous 1612 Glasgow Trades House 44.
Staincheours 1625 Glasgow B. Rec. I 347.
Prowyding the saidis oyes haue croce bar staincheouris of irne 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 296.
Staineschoores 1629 Glasgow Trades House 137.
For viij lb. of leid to batt the stainechours 1632 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 483.
Stainchowres 1651 Falkirk Baron Ct. 9 Dec.
Staincher(c) 1604 Misc. Maitl. C. I 402.
How that the said persones hes tane avay thre irne stenchoris of the glasnit doore of the said kirk; and enterit in the said kirk [etc.] 1667 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 214.
Mr William Douglas … had almost escaped out of the Tolbooth, having cutt the stenchers of the windows with aqua fortis 1682 New Mills Manuf. 37.
There being a motion made of the necessity of a prison … its ordered thatt … the stable be devided with a ston wall and iron stenchers be putt in the window 1689 Glasgow B. Rec. III 433.
Putting in stencheris and batts in the windowes(d) 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 227.
Stanyeouris 1579 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 306.
For x stanȝeouris of irne to Gyrie Bowey chalmerb. 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 352.
For ane stane yrne and virkin of it to be stanschuris to the vatter ture, 14 s. 1576 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 301. 1676 Lanark Presb. 112.
Mr. Robert Lawson reports that (as he was appointed) he hes called for the kirk box of Symintoun, the session book, the iron stancher, and the iron wherein the sandglasse stood 1698 Stirling B. Rec. II 343.
For tuell pund weight of iron and fyve pund of lead to batt it in, being a stencher over the hole at the bridge milne

c. ? The central member holding in place the mechanism of a turret clock.A particular type of clock current at this date has its mechanism held in place by a central flat bar of iron with slots cut in it to support the various wheels, etc. It is made to fit the main frame of the clock by the addition of small extra pieces (? mekkis) deriving perhaps from Mak n.² or as suggested s.v. Mik n. from the fact that they are slotted to receive the wedges (? candle: cf. mod. Sc. cannel the sloping edge of an axe, chisel, etc.) which hold the bar in place. 1546–7 Ayr B. Acc. 101.
[For taking the knock asunder, 15 s. For repairs to it (including two] mekkis [and a] mydstanchir)

d. A bar of iron used as raw material. 1633 Kirkcaldy Presb. 66.
The iron staunchers of the Seyfeild iron … that he caryed … to the smith … to mak choppeing knyves of

e. attrib. With airne (= iron), suitable for making bars; and hole. 1668 Boyd Fam. P. No. 289.
Stone haf lb. stancher airne 1 lb. 13 s. 1579 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 305.
To Jhone Weir maisoun making bote holis cruk holis stainȝeouris holis

2. transf. A stone mullion. 1654 Lanark B. Rec. 154.
Ther wes ane great window with ane stancher of stone that went up throw the midle