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

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

Tastar, Ta(i)ster, n. Also: testar. [ME and e.m.E. tastour (Trevisa), tastar (c1450), taster (1526), AF tastour.]

1. One employed to test the quality of a product prior to sale by tasting it, a taster (of ale or wine). Cf. Ale-tastare n. 14.. Acts I 329/2.
At ȝe ger be somonde ȝour … tastaris of ail prisaris of flesche [etc.] 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 121.
Prissar fles: Rob Morray [etc.] … Tastar al: John Leth 1557 Inverness Rec. I 13.
Taisteris of aill 1557 Inverness Rec. I 14.
Testaris c1575 Balfour Pract. 71.
All gustaris and taisteris of aill sall sweir that thay sall leillelie and trewlie taist the samin and set ane just price thairupon 1632 Monimail Reg. Ct. 23 Nov.
Ordenis Jon Spens and Thomas Myllis to be taisteris and cunstauris of the haill aill to be browin in Letham 1667 Misc. Maitl. C. III 151.
Taster of wines his fee, which is to continue no longer then the present taster's time

2. A cup used for tasting. 1627 Brechin Test. IV 291.
Ane goiblit ane sattfatt ane taister of siluer 1652 Edinb. Test. LXVI 66.
Ane taister of silver 1683 Inv. in Donibristle Mun. (Earl of Moray's MSS) 4 (9-10 May).
Thrie silver spoons, a skummer, a ladle, the head of a cup or taster