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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Over(i)sman, n. Also: overse-, ovir(i)s-, ower(i)s-, owirs- and -mane. [Overman n., with -s- as in Od(d)isman n. (f. Od(d)is n.). Also in the mod. dial.]

1. a. = Overman n. 1 b.Also, the general overseer of a trade market. 1513 (1586) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 145.
[That the Council] limitt and ordanet certane persouns maisters and oversmen of the said craft [of cordiners] 1636 Laurie Hist. Free Masonry 446.
Ane sufficient … persoun … to be thair wardane ovirsman or deacone quha … sall have power to suppres all … usurperis of the saids craftis Ib. 448. 1664 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 38.
The saidis gairners sall have ane oversman or visitour 1658 Glasgow Weavers 102.
Oversmane 1670–1 Glasgow Maltmen 29. 1696 Glasgow Wrights Acts 21.
The deacon and masteris of the Wrights of Glasgow, being mett to choyse a oversman for the Wrights of Gorballs, … they all in one voice made choice of George Murdoche, oversman for a year to come 1718 Glasgow B. Rec. v. 6.
The magistrats to call before them the deacon of the flesheris and his masters with the oversman of the land mercat and his masters

b. = Overman n. 1 c. 1578 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 80.
[Banished] becaus of the perturbatioun made be hym [in court] … and disobedience to the ouirsman [supra Johne McCuffy baillie] 1582 Ib. 177.
At the sicht of the ouerismen of the said burgh

c. The overseer or foreman of a body of workmen. 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 25.
The companie [of the workmen in Leith] … shall chuse ane oversman

d. ? The manager of a coal-mine (appar. superior to the ‘overseer’, Overséar n. 1 c). 1668 Salmon Borrowstounness 67.
Hendrie Measson, his oversman [sc. of a coal-mine] 1671 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 5 b.
To John Flyming for working tuo weiks in the levell roum as the overseman did order 1677 Fawside Coal Compt 14.
Wncost: Oversman & coallgreife 04,00,0 1679 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 14 b.
Da: McGibone salt grieve, Andro Griersone overseer, Jo: Baylie oversman Ib. 77.
Jo. Baylie oversman, Da. Mcgibone salt grieve, Ano. Griersone overseer, Ano. Cheysby night grieve 1681 Fawside Coal Compt 75.

2. = Overman n. 2, Ourman n. 2. 1492 Coll. Rebus Alban. 84.
Thai haue chosin for thame baith to ouirsman our Lord Bischoip of Murreff 1521 Prot. Bk. J. Foular ii. 101.
My lord Erskine and the lard of Keir is chosin ouirsmen in a voce 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 258.
That his Maiestie, with adwyse of sic as he sall pleis to elect and nominat as odismen and owirsmen for baith the saidis pairties [etc.] 1583 Wemyss Corr. 82. c1575 Balfour Pract. 413. 1598 Bk. Islay 106. 1605 Glasgow Chart. I. i. dcviii.
And [4 persons] as owersmen and odmen commounlie chosin betuix the mercheandis and the craftis in caice of variance 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 107.
The commoneris to agre on the owerisman 1608 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 73. 1625 Moray Synod 13. 1640 Falkirk Baron Ct. 10 Jan.
To choise ane overseman 1645 Acts VI. i. 453/2.
If they cannot agrie on ane oversman or that the oddseman choosune be them shall not decerne Ib.
Overseman a1650 Row 153.
Each shall choose so many out of his awin presbyterie with an oversman 1678 Corshill Baron Ct. 146.
Ovirisman c 1700 D. Hume Accompt of Estate App. 93.
Settled by … decreet arbitral pronunced by the deceast Mr John Frank and Mr Thomas Skeen advocats arbiters and the Lord Mersingtoun oversman

3. a. The chief or arbitrating executor of a will. b. One appointed to see that its terms are carried out and to safeguard the interests of the heirs. = Ourman n. 3 b, Overséar n. 2 a, etc. 1540 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 670/2.
I … ordinis [3 persons as executors] … and Robert Abbot of Kinloss ouersman, to my letter will 1547 Misc. Spald. C. V. 309.
The said executoris to do nathing by the awys of the said oversman, nor the said oversman to do nathing without awys of all the said executoris 1576 Edinb. Test. IV. 123.
[Four persons appointed] ouerismen in the said testament 1593 Reg. Privy C. V. 83.
With the quhilk soume hir saidis curatouris and the said Johnne Blair of that ilk, as ouerisman to hir, intromettit with

4. In Prestwick and Newtown-upon-Ayr: The chief officer of the burgh, the provost. = Ourman n. 4 a. 1571 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. lxxi.
[Wallace of Craigie had insinuated himself into office as] oversman [or provost of Newton] 1576–7 Prestwick B. Rec. 78.
Johnne Vallace … owersman deputt to Johnne Vallace of Cragy