† ˈscaffer Sc. Obs.
[f. scaff v.1 + -er1.]
A parasite, sponger; an extortioner.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxiii. 45 Scaffaris, and scamleris in the nuke. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) II. 99 Juglaris, menstralis, bardis and scaffaris [orig. Mimos, histriones, bardos, parasitos]. 1598 Aberd. Reg. (1848) II. 167 A multitude of..skafferis of the wymbes of the puir. |