A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375-1663
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Browstar(e, Broustar(e, n.1 Also: browstir, -er; broustair, -er, brovister. [ME. browstere, browstar (c 1440), f. brow-, Brew v.]
1. A brewer or seller of ale.(a) 1377–84 Reg. Great S. 252/1.
Juxta terram Johannis dicti Brouster 1381 Ib. 231/2.
Infra terras Hugonis Broustar 1430 Exchequer Rolls IV. 523.
Domini Willelmi Broustar 14.. Acts I. 27/2.
Of annuel rent of broustaris 14.. Ib. 33/2.
Ilke broustare sal put hir alewande ututh hir house 1455 Melville Chart. 40.
Willyam Androw Dawisoun, and Ewin Cambell, his broustar 1460 Exchequer Rolls VI. 657.
Pro gagiis Thome broustare et Ambrosii pistoris in Aberdene 1496 Prestwick B. Rec. 33.
In prisin of ale at the brousteris innys 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 63.
The hyne crynis the corn, The broustar the beir schorn 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 19.
Thir ar the namis of the broustaris … quhilk has oblist thame till keip the statutis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4136.
To the brousters of Cowper toun I leife my braid black malesoun 1560 Treasurer's Accounts XI. 33.
Certane broustaris appointit to preif the forsaid provisioun in ale to be of sufficient stufe 1562 Inverness B. Rec. I. 93.
The foirsaidis sowme … to be collectit fra the vnfre brousteris 1581 Burne Disput. 188.
Quhais fals prophetes ar maid of tinklaris, … broustaris, skinnaris 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 177.
The haill parochin, and in speciall brousteris, smythis and mylwardis, deponis that thei neuer hard ony guid taill tauld vpon hir 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 357.
The broustaris to brew ilk weik on Thursday 1650 St. A. Baxter Bks. 120.
Nather to taveren, brouster, nor na wthar persone … to sell againe(b) 1523 Acts Lords of Council MS. XXXIV. 22.
[To] caus the wifis of Edinburgh browsteris to be ansuerit tharof 1529 Master of Works Accounts I. 12.
To the browstar of the Abbay brewhous for granis 1530 Carnwath Baron Ct. 58.
That browstaris … resaif na trawaloris at cumis fra suspect placis 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 352.
Ane baxster, browster, or ane maister cuke 1546 Ib. 356.
Ane browster quhilk can brew moste hoilsum aill 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 128.
Thre baillies to await vpoun … the trying of the baxsteris, browsteris, maltmen [etc.] 1589 Ib. V. 9.
[A] proclamatioun … discharging all tapsters, … and browsteris … to hald oppin thair sellares dures or tavernis fra ten houris at evin 1599 Acts IV. 187/2.
Leidis and cadronis occupyit and vsit be browstaris and litstaris 1614 Elgin Rec. II. 139.
William Crichtoun and Johne Banerman, browsteris, wnder the laird of Mayne 1663 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 77.
The testificate … proceeds from mean persons, two of them being browsters
2. Attrib. with hous, land, seit, tak.(1) 1366 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 115.
Terram nostram que nunc vocatur le Brousterland 1366 Ib. 231.
Le Broustar lande 1384 Reg. Great S. 277/2.
Flacfyld in Browsterland cum pertinenciis(2) c 1563 Reg. Panmure I. p. xxxii.
He newir vald entir in ane browster hous 1607 Dundee B. Laws 410.
That na man … wirk ony wark in ane taverne or browster hous 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 357.
Thair salbe cunstaris of aill … in all the browstar houssis 1621 Ib. 361.(3) 1611 Reg. Panmure I. p. xciv.
Ane browster tak be east the towne 1616 Reg. Great S. 537/2.
Baronia de Thornetoun … cum bruerio lie Browstarseit 1622 Ib. 117/1.
Baronia de Brigtoun … cum manerie loco … et Browster seattis
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"Browstar n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/browstare>
