Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cotar, Coter, n. Also: coyttar, coittar, -er, coattar, coat(t)er. [Med. L. cotarius, f. cota Cote n.²]

1. = Cottar n.(a) 1450 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 85.
Alexander Wricht and his coteris of the toun of Achdouy 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 64.
The saidis Iohn Torrence … & Iohn Mur … thair seruandis, cotaris & gudis 1527 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 49.
Witht powar to the said Iames to mak cotaris and vnderseddillis under him(b) 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 275.
Williame Murray & … the spouse of Andro Greg, pure coyttaris & lauboraris of the grund 1574 Reg. Soltre 133.
The … landis of Wester Wemes … be fitt boundis as the said Dauidis father, his coittaris, tennentis and factouris, vsit of befor 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 113.
I leif to Iohne Hill, my coitter, ane boll aittis 1607 Crim. Trials II. ii. 531.
[He] requyrit Patrik Philp in Coudy, his coitter, to geve him the lane of his horse 1640 Peebles Gleanings 239.
Ane … roll of the names of all the coittaris and mean housholderis(c) 1636 Reg. Great S. 197/2.
Reservatis sibi servitiis tenentium et subtenentium lie coattaris dicte ville in lucrando [etc.] 1655 Stitchill Baron Ct. 1.
The haill tenents and coatters within the Barrony of Stitchill compeired all personally 1670 Melrose R. Rec. II. 259.
The possessores, inhabitence, and coaters off the toune and lands of Dannieltone 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 289.
All heretors, tennants and coatters universallie declairing ther abhorrance of these detestable … practises

2. Attrib. with hous, land. 1542 Stirlings of Keir 378.
The teynd schavis of the … Auld Byris, Coiterlandis, Perkland, Myln landis 1598 Crim. Trials II. 69.
For tressonabil fyre-rasing in the dwelling hous of George Dunbar, and in ane vther coitter hous pertening to the said George