A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1533-1606
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Lucre, Luker, -ir, n. Also: louker, luchier. [ME. (Wyclif, Chaucer, etc.) and e.m.E. lucre, e.m.E. also luker (1570), -ar (1605), F. lucre, L. lucrum. Cf. Lucrie.] Gain, profit, financial advantage.Most or all of the contexts imply the unfavourable sense ‘gain as a discreditable motive for action’.Filthy lucre (in Titus i. 11, Tindale's Transl.).(a) 1533 Boece ii. vi. 68 b.
Sum parte of Pichtis … folloit Ferquhard … inducit be hope of lukir and rewarde 1533 Ib. x. 78. 1533 Ib. iii. vi. 99 b, vii. 100, v. i. 162 b, etc. a1568 Bannatyne MS 80 a/17.
Marchandis of louker takis bot littill hede, Thair vsury is fetterit with distres 1606 Craig ii. 158/2.
Luker(b) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 28/31.
Men of corruptit mynd … estemand lucre to be godlines 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 287.
Mony … without forder respect bot thair awin privat lucre, hes abusit hir Hienes linitie 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 191.
[Priests] With wrang absolutiounis … For lucre to thame geuin a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxx. 50.
Filthie lucre is comptit honest schift(c) a1578 Pitsc. II. 59/30.
No drunkart, no fighter nor gevin to fillthie luchier [Knox filthy lucre]
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"Lucre n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lucre>
