Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ARCHER, n. Sc. usage: a member of the Royal Company of Archers, instituted in 1676, whose livery is a suit of Lincoln green with a bow and a quiver of arrows and who have formed on ceremonial occasions the personal body-guard of the Sovereign in Scotland since 1822.Sc. 1704 J. B. Paul Hist. Royal Co. Archers (1875) 40:
To grant us ane new Establishment of the Royal Company of Archers, Endueing it with such powers and priviledges as her Majesty shall think fitt to insert. Sc. 1724 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 139:
On the Royal Company of Archers, marching under the Command of his Grace Duke of Hamilton, in their proper Habits, to shoot for the Arrow at Musselburgh. Sc. 1822 Scotsman (17 Aug.) 259–60:
The Earl of Elgin, who commanded the Archers. The King then commanded the attendance of the Captain-General and Council of the Royal Company of Archers, to perform the service of delivering a pair of barbed arrows, which is the reddendo contained in the charter by Queen Anne. Sc. 1974 Scotsman (5 July) 8:
A guard of honour formed by the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland.