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

Ster(e, Steir(e, n.² Also: steyr, stare. [ME and e.m.E. ster (Orm), stere (c1250), stiere (Piers Plowman), steere (Chaucer), OE stéor (styr) fem., the action of guiding or governing; stéora wk. masc. a helmsman.]

1. Rule, government, control.(a) c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 130.
Tak him before in all thy gouernance, That in his hand the stere has of ȝou all a1500 Lanc. 1972.
The stere is lost, and al is gon amys(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 19241.
Quhill … schupe thame for to tak the steir on hand … For thay war richteous airis to King Porrus 1490 Irland Mir. III 108/35.
The king suld be wertuus … and the princis … that has the steir and gouernaunce vnder him 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 15.
All lychtnes is lost, Sturtyn study hes the steir, distroyand our sport 1535 Stewart 17723.
Syne this Allectus tuke on him the steir, And rang in Britane 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III 21.
The gude townys desyre twiching ane greit man to haue the steir reull and gouernance of the toun 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 219.
That … gentilmen of the cuntre have roule or steir thairin be send for 1567 Sat. P. vii 67.
Bludy boucheouris and throtcutters, on nycht, War only hard, and only had the steir a1568 Bann. MS 89b/26.
God grant ȝour myndis to be set Ȝe lordis that hes the king in steir That pure and riche may iustice get a1570-86 Maitl. F. 67/34.
Our lordis ar so degenerat Sen ladies tuk sic steir 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 574.
Thay wer bot twelf that tuke the steir Quha to that office chosin wer 1585 Misc. Bann. C. I 111.
The vmquhill Duke off Lenox, … had the chieff steir and credit in court 1585 Misc. Bann. C. I 123.
Avowit papists … war brocht in to his Majestie's company, privie chalmer, and … held swey and steir in maters off estait 1596 Dalr. II 179/3.
How sune he began to tak the steir of the realme(c) ?1438 Alex. ii 2877.
To Cassamus he tuke the gate, And fand him sittand at the stare [F. au gouvrenal; rh. Lare]

b. A means or instrument of control or guidance; a ruler or controller. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 195.
Quho sal be thare to pray for thy remyt? No wicht, bot geve hir merci will admytt Thé for gud will, that is thy gyd and stere a1500 Lanc. 1019.
She is here, That of thi lyue and of thi deith is stere 1490 Irland Mir. I 8/12.
Wisdome … is all the steire of his gouernaunce and of his realme a1568 Scott xv 25.
Sweit maistres … Steir, rewll, and gyder of my senssis richt

2. A rudder, helm. Also attrib. with burde. Also pl. Also in fig. context. 1375 Barb. iii 576.
Then schippyt thai … Sum went till ster and sum till ar, And rowyt be the ile of But 1375 Barb. iv 374.
Thar takyll, ayris, and thar ster, Thai hyde a1400 Leg. S. iv 250.
In ioy thai lad it in a bate, … For-owt maste, atye, or stere a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 628.
Bad thame … To the richt hand the stere set, & dresse thame to hald thare trad In-to the sey c1475 Wall. ix 133.
Cusyng, cum tak the ster on hand a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 450.
In to the Katryne thou maid a foule cahute, For thou bedrate hir, doune fra starn to stere [M. fra sterne to steyr] 1513 Doug. v iv 31.
Hym self, as skyppar, hynt the steir in hand 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 37.
We sailit in storme but steir gyde or glas To paradice a1568 Bann. MS 266b/29.
Quhen that the schip may sicker saill but steir … Scho quhome I luve sall steidfast be and trewattrib. 1549 Compl. 40/27.
Hail doune the steir burde lufe harde a burdepl. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xi 46.
Thy Ransonner, with woundis fyve, Mak thy plycht anker and thy steiris, To hald thy saule with Him

b. On ster, astern. c1475 Wall. ix 110.
He wyll yow hayll quhen that he cummys yow ner With out tary than mon yhe stryk on ster