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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tryar(e, Tryer, Trier, n. [ME and e.m.E. triour (Manning), tryar (1511), F. trieur; Try v.]

1. One who ascertains, discovers, finds out (something). 1579 Acts III 153/1.
Vndir the pane of confiscatioun of all thair movable guidis … the ane half … to our souerane lord and the vther half to the reveilar and tryar [Bisset I 105/27, tryare] of the saidis budtakaris 1598–9 Edinb. B. Rec. V 245.
James Young sercheour and tryer of the unfrie persouns occupeares of the fredome of this burgh, and of the persouns setters of thair houssis to the said unfrie persouns 1622-6 W. Barclay in 1622-6 Bisset I 21/12.
In limitis of our lawis None … heth bene moir perfyte tryer Quhat lenth, breadth, hecht nor deip, thair poware drawes

2. One who examines, tests or judges. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 132.
And suppose we had never sa mony examiners and triers, all is lost gif we try not our selfs 1619 Crim. Trials III 470.
And the tryell thairof is remittit to the assyse, quha becumis bayth tryeris and witnesses thairin 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 263.
I believe you intend not to exclude the civile magistrat from punishing of such thinges. The Moderatour answered—We are so farr from that, that we are content to be the first tryers of these thinges, that we may make schort worke for the civile magistrat

b. specif. One who examines and tests suspected witches. 1649 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I 451.
[John Kincard] jober [or] tryar [of witches, found the mark upon Henrison and his wife] 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI 56.
Marioun Sproit being prickit in the richt arme bled none and the tryer affermit that the mark was in hir bellie 1661 Black Sc. Witches 38.
And tharefter [he] send for Johne Kinkade the ordinar pricker and tryer of sutch persones

3. One who tries to obtain (something); a candidate; a competitor. c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 62.
He being elected and admitted, after some dispute concerning the two tryers [sc. for vacant chairs at the university], at length Mr. James Wiseman was admitted to the other vakeing classe 1665 Edinb. B. Rec. X 5.
None of the spectators [of the horse race] may preysume to ride without the stoups … under the paine of ten shilling sterling to be … exacted from each contravener … the tryers only excepted