A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375, 1543-1694
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Violar, Veolar, n. Also: violer, -or, wiolar, -er, vyolar(e, vialer, -or, viollar, -er, weolar, veilar, veiller, -ear, weiller, weioler, welvir, willir, vllar, viola. [e.m.E. veolar (1551-2), violer (1587).] A person who plays the viol. 1329 Exchequer Rolls I 141.]
[Et cuidam viellario, de dono comitisse, xx s.(a) 1543 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 240.
To the fyve violaris, in part of paiment of thair feyis, xxij li. 1548 Treasurer's Accounts IX 175.
To the vyolares that playit to my lorde governour the tyme of Pasche, xliiij s. 1548 Treasurer's Accounts IX 215.
Vyolarris 1549 Edinb. Hammermen 179b.
To the viollaris harperis pypparis fidlaris & vther menstralis the tyme James Cranstun [etc.] … maid ther daner in the hospetta[l] … xxj s. 1555 Treasurer's Accounts X 275.
To answer the four vviolars, xx li. 1562–3 Treasurer's Accounts XI 242.
Be the quenis grace precept, to Johnie Dow, Moreis Dow … wiolaris, for thair service done at Ȝule and Pasche, ilk ane of thame be the said space v li. 1565–6 Treasurer's Accounts XI 456.
Be the king and quenis grace precept, to v violaris lv elnis of lynnyng to be everie ane of thame thre sarkis … summa xj li. 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 124.
William Adamsoun, baillie … to delyuer to the violeris and sangsteris at the kingis entrie … thretty s. to the violeris and thretty s. to the sangsteris 1594–5 Aberd. B. Rec. II 106.
Robert Lauder and Gilbert Johnestoun, violar, war creat and maid burgessis 1610 Criminal Trials III 92.
Alexander Gordoun, violor in Wigtoun 1650 Alyth Par. Ch. 81 (see Viol n.).
Wioler 1664 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 507.
To the hous 2 violleris and the hostler £1 16 s. 1694 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 23 April.
The counsell allows ane accompt … for ale spent when some gentlemen were made burgesses … and part in money given to some violers(b) 1548 Edinb. Hammermen 176b.
Weolaris 1551–2 Treasurer's Accounts X 67.
Be the lordis compositouris speciale command to my lord governouris veolaris x li.(c) 1548–9 Treasurer's Accounts IX 281.
To the quennis vllarris xj li. v s.(d) 1603 Montgomery Mem. II 251 (see Vialon n.).
Vialoris 1688 Cramond Ch. Grange 52.
John Grant, vialer in Nethermill, to be summoned for his going with guisers and playing to them(e) 1612 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 327.
For … repairing the tofall callit the weiolers schalmer(f) 1661 Greyfriars Interments 24.
Anderson, Thomas, veillear in Blackfriars Wynd, his wife, Janet Ogilvie 1662 Greyfriars Interments 24.
Veiller 1662 Greyfriars Interments 63.
Boog, John, veilar, his child 1662 Greyfriars Interments 316.
Home, Alexander, weiller, his wife, Helen Shearer(g) 1673 Greyfriars Interments 323.
Huitson, John, welvir, a child(h) 1676 Greyfriars Interments 380.
Willer(i) 1670 Edinb. Marr. 46.
John Fairbairn, viola
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"Violar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 11 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/violar>
