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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.

Waiter, n. Also: waitter, wayt(t)er, watear, vyttar. [ME and e.m.E. weyter, wayter (both Wyclif), waiter (1537).]See also Onwait(t)er n.

1. One who watches over or guards (a person). b. comb.Waiter-on, that which keeps a watch over a person's actions etc. Only fig. 1553–4 Aberd. B. Rec. I 281.
That the saidis baillies suld … apprehend the said John Chalmer and put him in custodie in stark lokfast hows with vyttaris and vaychearis to awyt and keip him fra doing of skaythb. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 105.
He has appointed everie ane of your consciences to be ane keeper, a waiter-on, and a careful attender, upon everie action done by you

2. A customs officer. b. ? One who collects customs dues from a mill or ? takes care of a mill more generally. c. One who takes care of a clock. d. In one of the above or a similar sense. 1590 Cal. Sc. P. X 333.
To bestow upone him ane office of waitter in the poirt of London 1654 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 42.
A wayter in extraordinary here takes care of these places, & advertises the heall port when anything comes in thither 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 16.
[George Lesly, collector of his majesty's customs in Fife] to cause waiters enter a ship presently in Bruntilland harbour … and to doe their deuty … prohibiting shipes from Holland to come in to any harboury … be reason of the sicknes there 1676 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 23.
I Archibald Inglis late waiter of his Majesties customes at Aberdein whereas upon the complent … for … embazlements be me of the loadnings of tuo shippes [etc.] 1679 Lauder Notices Affairs I 216.
Sundrie merchands ar pershued … for entring their goods uncustomed … and for bribing and corrupting the waiters at the ports and elsewheir to let them passe 1681 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VIII 115.
Alexander Hendersone mairiner … imprisoned for baiting and abussing of the kings waitters 1685 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 155.
They appoynt the present taxmen and his collector to uplift the said dewty and to imploy his waitters for ingathering the said impost 1685 Wodrow Hist. IV (1830) 268.
We … command all our collectors, customers, or waiters to make … diligent search and inquiry in all ships arriving 1696 Dumfries Doc. (Discharge Grierson of Lag and Robert Grierson) MS.
To the waiter that was aboard efter the takeing in of the tabacco b. 1662 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 264.
Andrew Turnbull waitter on the mills to cleir how he has payit the rests of the first yeiris count of the mills upliftit be him 1719 Stirling B. Rec. II 161.
Robert Napier, waiter at the touns milns was … complained of for his rude … carriage … by laying doune … the keys of the borrowmilne and refusing to attend as waiter any longerc. 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 641.
This burgh [sc. Tain] payes yeirly to the knock waiter and bell attender the sowme of fourty powndsd. 1590 Sc. Ant. VIII 39.
Andro Car, watear 1658 Writers Signet xxv.
[He is suspended on confessing to] the exercesing of ane uther office and imployment at Kirkaldie, by being ane waiter 1705 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 149.
Recived from Alex. Smylem, waiter, five libs. Scots for half a yeirs meall of his house

3. One who attends on the needs of another; an attendant. 1603 6th Rep. Hist. MSS 672/2.
Officers and attendaunts vpon the queens syde in the courte, … two gent vshers daylie waytters twoo quarter wayters ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 223.
The commissioners sent from Huntly, in ther returne towards Aberdeen … they and ther waiters did espye [etc.]

4. ? One who is present at a place. 1639 Baillie I 214.
He keeped dailie in the castle of Dunce ane honourable table for the nobles and strangers with himself, for gentlemen waiters thereafter, at a long syde table

5. A watchman, guard or porter at the city gates. Also waiters lodge, see Lodge n. 1 a (2). 1665 Edinb. B. Rec. X 3.
That the … scholleris of the colledge may have a passage throw the wickets of the Potterrow and Societie ports … the counsell appoynts that the day waitter … keip the kie … and give them passage 1665 Greyfriars Interments 680.
John Weir, waiter (at the West Port) 1670 Fraser Providential Passages in C. J. Larner A Source-book of Scottish Witchcraft (1977) 201.
[Major Weir] got a charge over the waiters att the ports of the city, being a check to them, about the year 1650