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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hedis-, Heid(i)sman, n. Also: heiddisman, heades-, headis-man. [ME. heddysman (a 1400), f. hedis, genit. of Hede n.¹ Cf. Hedeman and ON. hǫfuðsmaðr. Chiefly Sc.] A head man: a chief, commander, ruler, leader, or person in authority. = Hede n. 10.(a) 1456 Hay I. 211/12.
Quhen he gave the governaunce of Archa Noe till Noe and maid him chef hedisman to governe the schip 1483 Acts II. 165/2.
With certane lordis & hedismen of the bordouris 1485 Ib. 170/2.
The lordis & hedismen of all partis of his realme 1496 in Pennecuik Historical Account of the Blue Blanket 11 (J).
The said craft is abusit and the maisters and hedismen thairof gretly skaithit 1496–7 Acta Conc. II. 41.
That every hedismen of al clanis ressave the summondis 1513 Doug. v. xii. 175.
All the hedismen … Stabillis thar lawys and statutis for that town 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 33.
That the scheraris, walkaris, and bonetmakaris sall pas all togidder vuder ane hedisman, dekin, or oureman 1535 Acts II. 347/2.
That the hedismen of ilk parochine mak taikynnis and geve to the beggaris 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. .
[The inhabitants are to obey] the magistratis and hedismen of the burgh quhair thay ar indwellars(b) 1483 Edinb. Hammermen's Seal of Cause MS.
The heidismen and maisters of the hammermen craft 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 182.
To Greg to pas with letteris to the Bordowris to gar the heidis men cum to Edinburgh to the King 1513–4 Acta Conc. MS. XXVI. 32.
Thir ar the heidis men that sall tak the reule of the northland apoun thame 1531 Bell. Boece II. 478.
The king … slew the said Hary Perse, … with mony othir noblis and heidismen of thair factioun a1500 Henr. III. 164/57.
Wald the heidismen [v.r. heiddismen] that suld keip the law Pvnis the peple for thair transgressioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 353/11.
Thair was great … heirscheip in the contrie be thir saidis heidis men [sc. of the Borders] 1622-6 Bisset II. 221/14.
The schip [beand] sufficientlie equippaged, [the Admiral] sall cause the heidismen sueir as said is and sall inioyne to the maisteris … to obey thair heidis(c) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
All lordes and heades-men of al partes of this realme 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 341.
Johne Hall, present headis man or dekine of the chirurgianis and barbouris