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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHAMBERLAIN, -LAND, CHALMERLAIN, n.

1. “Title of a chief officer of the kingdom of Scotland” (N.E.D.).

Hence chamberlain ayre (see quot.). See also Air, n.5Sc. 1805 R. Forsyth Beauties Scot. I. 146:
He [the Chamberlain] held circuits, or chamberlain ayres (as they were called), in the different boroughs, for the purpose of reviewing the decrees of the magistrates, of hearing complaints against them for mismanagement of the public revenue, and for regulating the police.

2. The faactor or steward of a nobleman, “esp. in Scotland” (Un. Eng. Dict.). “Still in use here” (Arg.1 1939).Sc. 1731 J. Swift (ed.) Creichton's Memoirs in Works (ed. Scott 1814) X. 124:
Balfour . . . had been the archbishop [Sharpe]'s chamberlain (for so in Scotland we call a great man's steward).
Ags. 1706 Private Document (per Fif.1):
His executors or assigneys, factors chalmerlains or others.
Lnk. 1717 Minutes J.P.s Lnk. (S.H.S. 1931) 222:
William Bertram . . . baillie and chamberland to his Grace the Duke of Douglas.
Arg. 1901 N. Munro Doom Castle x.:
Argyll smiled . . . “I should not wonder if there are half a hundred claymores with hands in them somewhere about our old barracks in Maltland. Eh! Simon?” and he smiled down the table to his Chamberlain.

Hence chamberlainry, the office of chamberlain.Sc. 1713 First Earl of Cromartie in Earls of Crm. (ed. Fraser 1876) II. 143:
He did conferr a pension of 400 lb. on him during life, both under the seals and acts of court, with an express clause in his gift of chamberlainry to retain it in the first end of his intromission.

[O.Sc. chamberlane, -land, the chamberlain of Scotland, 1389; a chamberlain or steward, 1552; also chalmerlane, -laine, 1510, and chalmerlan(e) air, 1470 (D.O.S.T.).]

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"Chamberlain n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/chamberlain>

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