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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Standar(t, n. Also: -er(t, -erte, -ard, -wart, standdart, stannar, stan(n)er, stonner. Pl. also standris. [ME and e.m.E. standard (1154), stondard (1297), standerd(e (1409), -ert(e (a1420), -art (c1500), stander (1538), OF estandart a flag (1080 in Larousse), framework of a well (1397), vertical support (1440, both Wartburg), Frankish *standhart (Larousse, Wartburg).OED suggests Romanic estendere, L. extendere, the Gmc. source, however, permitting a phonological and semantic link with Stand v. makes a more coherent whole of the range of senses displayed.]

1. A flag displaying the symbols of identification (saltire, coat of arms, etc.) of a king, nobleman, town, etc., intended to be carried in battle, procession, etc. as a means of identification. Also attrib.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 5787.
The standart and the gumfioun Sall baith throw me be dungin doun 1496 Edinb. Hammermen 13b.
On Corpus Christi day to the iiij men at buyr the iiij standartis iij in harnes 1496–7 Aberd. Trades 51.
That everie craftsmen … sale ger mak ane standart for thar craft 1505 Edinb. Hammermen 56.
The … bannaris standartis candilheidis & vthir graitht pertenyng to Sanct Loye 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 369.
To browdin the kingis armes apoun the said standartis 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 521.
For … silk to be frenȝeis to the baneris and standartis 1513 Doug. vii vi 113.
To thé, Bacchus, scho rasyt … Gret lang speris, as thai standartis wer 1533 Boece 156.
He chargit thai suld rais standartis … and recounter inemyis 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 101.
Bertane claith maid in standarttis and send to the castell of Dumbar … for paintyng of thame 1596 Dalr. II 300/2.
Monie standarts and syngis … left be the Inglismen be the Scotis ar tane in sygne of triumph 1598 Treas. Acc. MS 85b.
Poildaue to be sockettis to the standart a1634 Read Buch. 263.
Scullions … setting up quhyt cloathes as standarts upon stick ends a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 299.
The most comely persons were chosen to carry the standart 1670 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 221.
Standdart(b) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 477.
xxiiij ellis lynnyng to lit blew for the heid of the standert to pant Sanct Androis cors 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. vii.
Men ranking themselues vnder stately standerts and punicall pinsels 1613 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 346.
For carying the grit standert out of the chapill and to the chapill agane(c) 1375 Barb. xi 472.
The gret ost haf thai sene … Thai saw sa fele browdyne baneris, Standaris [C. standartis] and pennownys 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 298.
To lyne the sam standaris, xviij elnis canves(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 1498.
Sa saw thay … The standart and the gunfioun Of the riche Empriour … The baner of Massidone 1456 Hay I 164/35.
To fynd wayes to stryke doune thair banner or thair standart 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 387.
Tua fyne marykin skynnis to be ane cais to the quenis grace standart 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 195.
For ane gret speir to the quennis grace standart, ane heid to it, and paynting of the same a1578 Pitsc. I 53/9.
The castell … was randerit fre hand sa sune as [they saw] the kingis standart 1600 Acts IV 244/1.
The … heretable richt … of the beiring of all his hienes banneris, standertis, cornettis [etc.] 1608 Stirling B. Rec. I 119.
To beir the townis ansenyie or standart 1662 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 203.
Bearer of the tounes standart … at ther … perambulatione of the utter land merches(3) 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 377.
Ane Inglische standart 1611–12 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 330.
For fetcheing of the Canagat standard 1675 Cunningham Diary 65.
The Militia trumpet and standardattrib. 1592 Acts III 565/1.
James Scrymgeour … heretable standart berair 1613 Misc. New Spald. C. I 111.
Forbes, Normand, standard-bearer to Captain Arthur F. 1533 Boece 613.
Inglismen slaying the standert man, begane to driff the Scottis abak

b. specif. Set up or used as a rallying point, etc. on a battlefield. ?1438 Alex. ii 7209.
Thow gar my standart vp be set—Thare woundit and menȝeit may rely ?1438 Alex. ii 7235.
Marciane … with the standart gais And set it vp in myddis the grene ?1438 Alex. ii 9134.
To the standartis the feild thay wan 1460 Hay Alex. 1240.
[They] plantit doun thair tentis and palȝonis Syne plantis standartis a1578 Pitsc. I 271/3.
Then the Earle of Huntlie and Lord Home blew thair trumpattis and convenitt thair men agane to thair standartis

c. Identifying a place, esp. a ship. 1504–6 Treas. Acc. III 90.
Ane blew steik of sey … to the hos of the standart to the schip 1507 Treas. Acc. III 260.
Five standartis to the mekle pailȝoun 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 295.
The standaris, pinsalis, and banaris of the kingis schippis 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 297.
To be Sanctandrois Croce apone the standaris of the said schip, ij elnis iij quartaris quhet trailȝe 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 435.
For the completing of the kingis standartis to his schippis 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 477.
Standerris 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 477.
To the greit schip mayn standert 1513 Doug. ix vii 85.
O Latonya, … gif that I … at thy standart, knoppit post of tre, Thy haly tempillys rufe or bawkis hie, Gif evir I hung … ony thyng [etc.] 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 222.
Ane gret copper mell for dryving of the gret standartis of the listis

d. Seen specif. as a symbol of allegiance, loyalty, etc.; passing into fig. use, the allegiance itself. 1562-3 Winȝet I 53/23.
At Pasche … thai … ministrate the sacramentis til ws on the catholik manere; and be Witsonday thai change thair standart in our plane contrare 1558-66 Knox II 324.
My granfather, goodsher and father have served your Lordshipis predecessoris … some of thame have died under thair standartis c1590 Fowler I 38/47.
Whairevir might his standart than or enseinȝe be found, Thair wes I lykwyse prest in armes 1626 Garden Worthies 62.
Thy forces … infamous flight, nor yet the foe, Could force thé fant, nor from thy standart stirr 1646 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 411.
The quhilk day the … brethrein of the maissoun tred … acceptit Hew Miller … to the said tred, quha hes sworne to the standart of the said ludge

2. A (usu., wooden) upright; a vertical, load-bearing member; a pile; one of the upright parts of a framework; a single upright support.(a) 1539 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. v (Elphinstone v. Innes).
Ane windes with quhelis of the well with cordis bukkettis and standartis thairof 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II 275.
For ane grete geist to the west bekin … for twa treis to be standarttis thairto 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 308.
To beir up to the nether tolbuith the soillis, lintallis, and standarts of the great braid draucht nixt the wall 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 310.
vj greit geistis of xxxij futts of lenth, to be standarts to the foirface of the Newhevin 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 254.
The lang tymmer that is of the lenth of standartis 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II 142.
xij glewt pannellis, with certane standartis and intendens for the eistmaist trivice 1566–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II 237.
For ane trie to be ane mid standart to the greit yet 1574 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 384.
For the mending and changing of the standart that holdis the bassing on the pulpett 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 121.
Aikin tymmer to be standartis to the letteroun in the new kirk 1586 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 262.
Ane standart to the glob 1589 Mill Mediæv. Plays 196.
Tua grit ruife sparis … to be standartis to the skaffald 1658–9 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 442.
For on trie which stands amongst the great tries to be ane standart to the uther crane 1672 Sinclair Hydrostaticks 153.
Because the form is four-square, there must be four standarts of timber, in each corner one, to which the planks must be nailed 1690 Edinb. B. Rec. XII 29.
They most be floored jested and standarts and dorments be put therin(b) 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 408.
To certane wrychtis for making of palȝeone treis, pynnis, irne werk, and standertis to the saidis palȝeonis 1578 Reg. Privy S. VII 253/2.
To mak, set and fix standertis of the necessare under the stairis of his land … the foundament … being so waik as it can nocht weill be sufficientlie … uphaldin without proppis and standertis of tymmer 1638 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 183.
Tua buirdis of fir with the standert thairof of knapheld(c) 1596–7 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 30.
Item for ane tre to be a standard to the third beacon 1650 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. in Rogers Social Life I 384.
The standard of ane bassone called the knaive(d) 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 295.
Expensis of the temerwark of the wendois … For the makeng of tua wendocht brodis and the meid standar of the kait [? erron. for kais] iiii s. For the putteng up of the stander of the for yeit and werken of it … iiii s. 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I 444.
Ane Suaden gist to be standris, viz., to the saitts of that wark 1582 Treas. Acc. MS 43.
Four double rwiff spar tobe standaris to everie traveis 1586 Perth B. Ct. 3 June.
The said Gilbert hes done wrang in putting vp of ane stander and closing foiranent his awin boith dur with ane burde 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 15 July.
Ane sufficient case off ane burde of aik with four turnit stowpis & sex standeris 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 88.
A bridge to build … Some do hoise up the standers, others fixe them; And some lay goodlie rafters o'er betwixt them 1649–50 Dumbarton Treas. Acc. MS.
For thrie oken tries to the key tuo of them to be standers and one of them ane keptrie(e) 1586 Digest Justiciary Proc. L 48.
Gwn pulder quhilk … wes plaicit … vnder the grund and angular stanner 1624 Peebles Gleanings 45.
Four geists to the steippill to be staneris to the kaiseing of the bell towis 1682 Edinb. City Archives Letters II 14.
Cause William Allexander take care to fill the dyke of the dam as much as may be and farder downe wher the old timber cradles wer cause throwing in as many of the greatest of the stannars as they can(f) 1530 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 36.
For xxvi drauchtis of the stonners of the sentreis for wall plaitis

b. An upright post of a four-posted bed.Cf. OED Standard n. 28 b.The 1695 quot. may belong elsewhere. 1537 Treas. Acc. VI 338.
Hoissing to the kingis standerttis of his letta camp 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 238.
Foure standeris of fedderis for the toppis of beddis 16… Warrack Domest. Life 169.
[The top of the bed was often decorated with] standardis of fedderis [at the four corners] 1695 Edinb. Test. LXXX 134.
Ane old walnout trie-table and standarts worth vj lib. Item ane mett for the table worth iij lib.

c. An upright, metal glazing-bar.(a) 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 68.
To … twa bund bois irne wyndois ilk wyndok of vi standartis and xiii thorteris 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II 95.
Ane part of the standdarttis of the brand windo 1573-4 Day-bk. J. Kyle 1.
For sax pund leid to fessin the standerts of the south wyndois 1573–4 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 69.
Fywe pund leid to fessen the standertis of the south wyndow(b) 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 84.
For xii pund maid irne werk in ane stander and thorter to ane wyndo 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II 140.
iiij standers to the west wyndo

d. A (part of) a framework used by dyers to dry cloth. 1659 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 147.
The north perk tree or standard would be removed to the south of the uther twa standing trees and the overtree or crosse tree sould not overly the standing trees … above a fute of measure and the saidis litster trees [etc.]

e. A support for a cooking pot, etc. 1619 Edinb. Test. L 182b.
Tua pair of braissin standeris of bras to ane chimlay 1641 Edinb. Test. LX 14b.
Ane irone guise pan … ane iron standart thairto 1657 Edinb. Test. LXIX 28b.
Ane chymney with gallowes and raxes … speites and ane ȝrone standerte 1664 Inventory 4 in Decr. Dalr. XI.
Ane drapping pan. Item, ane stander to it 1689 Brechin Test. VII 211b.
Ane iron chimney with standart and three crooks

f. A vertical, metal support for a closing mechanism (on a door or the like). 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II 98.
Sex standartis to the glaspe bandis [etc.]

g. A pole appar. intended to carry decorations of some sort, ? a flagpole. 1627 Glasgow B. Rec. I 363.
For gilting the cok and thanes and cullouring of the same yallow with the glob and standart and stanes about the stepill

h. A candlestick. The first two quots. may belong in i below. 1634 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 424.
Ane ibine standwart pryce four pund 1694 Inchmahome Pr. 162.
In the east chamber. A firr table, tuo standers, [etc.]attrib. 1675 Cunningham Diary 50.
To the said Andrew for a standard kind of candlestick he made me£1 4s.

i. An inkwell. 1632 Edinb. Test. LVI 23b.
Thrie tin standeris for ink 1643 Edinb. Test. LX 240b.
Twa gilt standeris or standages estimat boith to xxiiij s.

3. The prescribed magnitude of a unit of measure, weight or capacity; the authorised exemplar held by a public authority or authorised person. b. A record or table of standard weights current in the Mint. c. An authorised level of prices. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 39 (A).
All thir mesouris elne stane & punde sal be selyt with the standart [Acts I 30/2, seele] of the burgh 1584 Acts III 302/2.
Anent the gage and standert of salmound … that ilk burgh sall ressaue ane patroun of the gage and measure foresaid 1587 Acts III 522/1.
That thair be double standertis of all … wechtis, mettis, and measouris maid of brais, the ane … to remane in the register, and the wther with the tounis to quhome thay haif bene committit 1634 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 102.
The Inglish standard of crowne gold … is 22 carrettis 1638 Reg. Great S. 315/1.
Lie auld gadge et standard de Abirdein 1649 Edinb. Test. LXIV 230.
Ane oylie punscheone and oylie standart 1660 Conv. Burghs III 502.
Which is the value of fyve thousand pund sterling, of copper money according to the trew standart of Scotland 1680 Edinb. B. Rec. X 389.
The … bread … is to be according to pais or standart according to the rait of the wheat viz. the twelve penny loaf at present to be eleven ounces fyve drop 1681 (1691) Consideration on the Scots Mint 30.
Utter fine silver, which is two graines above the standart 1685 Acts VIII 494/2.
Act for a Standart of Myles … a thousand seven hundreth and sixty yards are to make a myle 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 118.
By this Act all the standarts of weights and measures are ordain'd to remain at Edinburgh; yet by Act of Burrows they have been divided thus; the standart of the stone-weight remains at Lanerk [etc.] 1690 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 231.
Sir Thomas … clerk to the exchaquer to give up … the largest of the two standarts of indented silver plate that came from London … and to keep the other of the saids standarts as a check upon the Mintb. 1686 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 210.
That there shall be a standart or printed table keeped in the Mint house of the value of money or bullion according to the denominationes of weights usedc. 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II 807.
There is no standart set for the price of vivers and if they buy dear they most sell accordingly

d. A level of correctness (of behaviour, etc.); a criterion, more generally. 1618 Lithgow Poet. Remains 14.
My minde is firme, my standart cannot slide 1687 Fugitive Poetry II xlii 6/15.
Money's the standart does the cause decide 1699 Forrester Bishops Claim i 91.
As exhibiting the plat-form and standart of church laws 1699 Forrester Bishops Claim ii 24.

e. ? A type or variety (of something), ? a variation in quality. 1664 Inventory 11 in Decr. Dalr. XI.
Certane penner inkhorne of all sorts & standards

f. attrib. Conforming to a standard. 1621 Stirling Merch. Guild 41.
If yarn sold in the market is found not to conform with the standard width [etc.] 1641 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I xxxi.
That all goldsmyth work should be of the standard fynnes 1663 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 151.
His majesty did appoint standart peices of gold and silver … being eleven deneirs fyne 1682 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 191.
Ane indented silver standart plaite of sterling fynnes 1696 Stitchill Baron Ct. 120.
Keiping of insufficient weights and measures not tryed with the standard jugg ?16… Edinb. City Archives Moses Bundle 254 No. 7756.
Ane ounce of standard coyned silver

4. ? A service-book. Cf. late ME and e.m.E. (c1400-1503) s.v. Standard n. 22 (OED). a1568 Bann. MS 29b/7.
Write we in till our standert stoute Virgo peperit saluatorem

5. In Kirkintilloch: One of sixteen land-holders, each holding sixteen acres; the land-holding itself. 1668 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 15.
Johne Calder stander 1669 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 16.
The tuelve pounds … shall be layde on vpon the sextine standers ilke a stander to be 15 s. Scots 1669 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 17.
That everie quarter the standers shall paye 12 s. of officers fie 1671 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 31.
That the whole sextine standers everie gatherer thairoff shall … give up ane true accompt … what aikers of land and housses is contained in their standard quhairoff the names of the standers heir followeth: Maister James Flemyng [etc.] 1671 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 37.
That everie burges and portiouner of Kirkintilloch shall leid so many stanes … And everie heretore that is annent the … causey is to paye the masounes for causieing … that is to say everie stander is to leid threttie tua draughts of stones … quhilk is everie aiker is to leid twa draught of stones [etc.] 1679 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 102.
The counsell … finding themselves addebtit … past a vote whither they sould lay it on the persones of men or on the land and … it wes caried … that it sould be layde on the land quhilk is to be fiftie foure shilling Scots money on everie stander quhilk is thrie shilling fyve pennies Scots on everie aiker. And it is farder enactit … that everie stander that is not willing to paye it be the land shall have libertie to stint thaire cottars 1681 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 115.
Bailyies ordaines twentie sex shilling and tuo pennies Scots on ilke a 16 pairt and stander in Kirkintillochattrib. 1675 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 69.
Allexander Baxster takes ane act of his overgiving the standard gathering of Johne Calders