Forms: 6 bursor, 6–8 burser, 8 bourser, boursar, 7– bursar. [ad. med.L. bursārius, f. BURSA; cf. F. boursier used in senses 1 and 2.]
1. A treasurer, esp. of a college.
1587. Harrison, England, II. iii. 82. In ech of these [colleges] … they haue one or moe thresurers whom they call Bursarios or bursers.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1361/2. A bursor or paiemaster for those wars.
1695. Kennett, Par. Antiq., Gloss. s.v. Bursaria, The conventual bursar was to deliver up his accounts yearly on the day after Michaelmas.
1706. Hearne, Collect. (1885), I. 198. He … continu’d Bourser of ye College several years together.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., iv. 109. Each college has one or more bursars who administer the finances.
2. In Scotch universities and schools: A student or scholar who holds a bursary, an exhibitioner.
1567. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1597), § 12. Al Patronis hauand Provestries, or Prebendaries of Colleges, Alterages or Chaplaneries, at their giftis and dispositioun, may … present the samin to Bursaris, quhom they pleise to name, to studie vertew & letteris, within ane College of ony of the Vniuersiteis of this Realme.
1634–46. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), Introd. 20. Quhairby a burser might be intertened at the New Colledge of Santandrous.
1787. Beattie, Scoticisms, 16.
1856. J. Grant, Black Drag., xxxii. It was not to discuss such points with a bursar fresh from Glasgow College I came here.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scotl., II. 497. Three bursaries … at the grammar School of Banff, each bursar receiving free education and £2 10 0 yearly for maintenance.
3. A student in a ‘bursa’ (see BURSA 2).
1852. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss., 408. The rector … repeated with his bursars their public lessons.
