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.
Quotation dates: 1488-1679
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Sore, Soir, adj. (n.2). Also: soyr, sorre, soar(e. [Late ME and e.m.E. soore (a1400), sowre (c1450), sor (c1481), soare (1575), sore (1677), OF sor, saur yellowish-brown (1080 in Larousse), of WGmc. origin. Cf. med. L. sorus brown (of hounds), saurus unmewed or -moulted (of a hawk).]
A. adj. 1. Of a horse: Sorrel, light chestnut-coloured.Also, of the colouring itself.Also, with additional adj. more precisely specifying the colouring or markings.(1) 1488–9 Acts Lords of Council I 116/2.
Patric Lyone sall restore … to Alexander Scot a sore hors 1522 Wigtown B. Ct. 125b.
For the vrangus taking of a sore meyr(b) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 211.
The first was soyr with mane als reid as rois 1506 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 65.
Johnne Bisset pundit Johnne Mechall and tuk ane soir [pr. foir] hors fra him 1586 Treasurer's Accounts MS 85.
Sex elnis of poldavie canves tobe ane dayes scheit to the soir hors, heid pece & all 1601 Criminal Trials II 360.
Twa naigis, ane soir and ane vther broune 1630 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 417.
Ten pundis money for the pryce of ane soir naig(c) 1679 Lauderdale P. III xcv 165.
With a pitch fork they made … an opening in my sorre horses belly(d) 1556-69 Inv. Q. Mary cxiv note.
He rideth upon the soar gelding(2) 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 27.
Eous the steid with ruby hamys red … lyftis furth hys hed Of cullour soyr and sumdeill brovn as berry(3) 1595 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 79.
Ane soir bald meir 1597 Reg. Privy C. V 406.
Ane soir broun hors 1606 Edinburgh Testaments XLI 278b.
Ane brown soir hors 1647 Peebles Gleanings 287.
Ane bay soare hors
b. comb. Soir-hewit, sorrel-coloured. 1569 Criminal Trials I ii 8.
Ane soir hewit horse
2. Applied to a bird of prey. 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 125.
The soir gled quhislis lowd with mony a pew
B. noun. A sorrel horse. a1500 Sir Eger 136.
I saw a knight ride on a sore With red shield a1500 Sir Eger 2310 (L).
[He] laid the sheild upon the soar And then he rode the knight before 1563 Protocol Book of J. Drummond 30.
Four hors … ane quhite ambuland … ane soir
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"Sore adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sore_adj>
