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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pundlar, Pondlar, Poundler, n.² Also: -lair; punlar, -ler. [Altered f. Pundar n.² (? by influence of Pundlar n.¹⁾.] In Orkney: A pundlar, a large weighing beam of the steelyard type.Used for weighing heavier goods, the lighter being weighed on the smaller bismar (Bismar n.).See also Bere-pundlar n., malt-poundlar Malt n. 2 a, and, for the relative scales of these, the following quots. from Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. below and, espec., Mele n.² 2, q.v. also for further examples: 1633 (1711) Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 32.
And 36 meils of bear, upon the bear pundler, and 24 upon the malt pundler, makes a chalder of bear, which will measure out 21 bolls Linlithgow measure Ib. 33.
Pundler, is a beam distinguished with the marks of their weight, which hath a stone upon the one end, (which stone on the malt pundler should be a setten weight, and on the bear pundler sixteen mark) and a hook on the other end, for hanging up the cassie in which their victuall is. In most it does resemble a stalliard, on which mony is weighed a1688 Wallace Orkney 41.
Nor do they make use of peck and firlot, but all their corns are weighed on bismires or pundlers Ib. (ed. 2) 70.
They … weigh all … with … poundlers, as they call them, for great weights. In most it resembles a stilliard that money is weighed on(a) 1575 Orkney Oppress. 7.
In alteration and changing of the auld weigh of the bismyre and pondlar of Orkney, be making the same the fifth part mair nor it was of before … except the beir pondler 1593 Rec. Earld. Orkney 169.
Ȝeirly elevin settens vii mark mail, guid and sufficent stuif veyit vpon ony equaell pondlair vithin the parochin c1612 Orkney Rentals ii 2.
Ber, malt, maill, butter and oyll, ar all weighed upon tuo ordinarie weightis, the pondler and busmer 1619 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I 38b.
Thrie scoir four meillis beir on the malt pondler 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 56.
For 34 meillis beir [etc.] … upon the debt pondler of the said iyll [Burray] 1642 Ib. iv 29.
Oupon the beir pondlar(b) 1613 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 88.
To the quantitie of iiii meillis [etc.] … beir and iii meillis [etc.] … aittis upone the malt pundler 1615 Ib. in Misc. Maitl. C. II 181.
That all pundleris and bismeris be markit with his maiesties mark 1628 Kirkwall Sheriff Ct. Act Bk. 13b.
That every pundler sallbe justed and maid equall with the kings pundler 1659 Orkney Rentals App. 122.
That the pundlars and bismars be justit once every year 1668 Orkney Antiq. Soc. V 39.
Ane barrell full of raisins all weyand upon the pundlar ane meill & ane half settin more ane double chistlock 1685 Orkney Test. in A. Fenton The Northern Isles (1978) 139.
Ane malt pundler worth 02.00.00 1698 Retours II Inq. Spec. Orkney et Shetland (156).
11 lasts 7 meills hordei supra lie bear pundler de Orknay(c) 1614 Orkney Rentals ii 145.
Waltnes … payis yeirlie in land maillis 22 m. 2 st. 16 mk. malt on the malt poundler 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 235.
Sufficient beir upon the malt poundler for everie meill of malt c1642 Orkney Rentals v 26.
Sua remaines … xv last … bear vpon the bear poundlair(d) 1632 Reg. Great S. 644/1.
2 meillis [etc.] … bear upon the bear punlar c1642 Orkney Rentals iii 24.
The Ille of Pearah … payes thairfor, conforme to the rentall, 40 meils of beir on the beir punler and 6 meils flesch