Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Singar, -er, n. Also: syngar(e, singyer. [ME and e.m.E. singer, syngere (Manning), syngar (a1370); Sing v.¹] a. A person who sings, a (professional) singer of secular songs. = Sangstar(e n. b. In the pre-Reformation church: A person, freq. a cleric, engaged to sing in a church choir; a chorister.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxiii 9.
Musicianis, menstralis, and mirrie singaris 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 318.
To Wantones and hir marrow singaris, … xiiij s. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 187.
To tua lawdis singaris in elimose xiiij s. 1513 Doug. viii v 13.
Syne the menstralis, syngaris and danseris … Abowt the kyndlit altaris … Assemblit ar 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 100/1.
For the airt and pairt of the crewell slauchter of umquhile singyer David Riccio 1681 Lauder Notices Affairs I 300.
Four of the men called the ‘Sweit Singers’ … who had framed a most ridiculous paper, that was printedb. c1500 Fyve Bestes 182.
He was a richt gud syngar in the quere c1500 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 259.
Thar salbe in the said colleg bot the nowmere of sextene bredir singaris 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 254/1.
At Sanct Colmys Inch … A lettre made to Johne Silver syngare, of the gift of the eschete gudis of bastardry of … Johne Robertoun 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 181.
To the paroche clerk … at brocht the croce [pr. crate] with the sence and to the singaris 1520 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 354.
Sir Johne Fif thar feit choristar and singar 1527 Reg. Privy S. I 557/2.
Ane lettre … makand him singar in the kingis chapell ryall, and to have for his service thairin xx lib. 1528–9 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 360.
To all the tounis feallis singaris baith prestis and clerkis 1528–9 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 361.
Tua chaplanis … to writ … the faltis of the said feallis singaris baith of Matenis hey mess Ewinsang