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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sav(e)and, Sav(e)ing, Sa(i)fand, Saufand, Sauffing, Saffand, pres. p., prep. and conj. Also: savyng, sawend, -yn, sevand, saifeand, saifane, saiffand, saif(f)ing, sailfand, sayffande; sauff-, saulf-, salf(f)-, salv-, sawuand(e, saulf(f)ing, salving; sa(u)vant. [ME and e.m.E. sauynge (Chaucer), savinge, sauing (both Tindale), (late) north. ME sauing (c1400), safeyng (c1440), sauand (a1400–50), absol. use of pres. p. of Sav(e v.]

A. pres. p. Reserving or retaining to a person, freq. the original possessor (a right, possession, expense, etc.); also, once, fra harm, an imposition. Cf. Sav(e v. 7 e.(1) 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 139.
Sauand to me my seruys aught and custum thar of 1460 Stewart Mem. 64.
Safand to the said Johne Stevart the price of all distroyit byggyngis that may be recouerit be the law 1493–4 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 334.
Ve herfor … has … confermyt the saide chawmer [etc.] … sayffande to ws and our successouris suffrage of dyvyne seruice of the chapellains of the saide alter alanerly 1528 Acts II 329/2. 1532–3 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 94.
Saiffand to thaim and every ane of thaim thair just and lauchfull defenses 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 13.
Saifeand 1641 Acts V 438/1.
Saiffand and reserveand allwayes to our said soverane lord … rightes service and few dewties aucht and wont to his hienes(b) 1389 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 16.
That the forsayde schyr Jon sall gyf to the forsaide Doncane … al hys land of Kylmanyne saufand til the forsayde schyr Jon hys tenandrys [etc.] 1402 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
Saufand to the forsaide religeous men courtis of lyfe & lym [etc.] 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 59.
Giff that he has mony dochtiris betwix thaim salbe departit the heretagis … saufand the cheff tenement till the eldest sister 1447 (1451) Reg. Great S. 106/1.
The said Cristiane has set and to ferm latyn … to the said Alex. [etc.] … al and sindry hir landis of Stratoun [etc.] … saulfande anerly to the said lady bludwite and merchete 1478 Acta Aud. 83/2.
Saufand to the saidis partijs lauchfull excepcions again the persouns that salbe chosin vppoun the saide gret assise 1498 Acta Conc. II 200.
Saulfand to the procuratouris abonewritin … al excepcions of law … til be proponit and allegit be thame agane the sade day 1499 Reg. Privy S. I 50/1.
A precept of confirmatioun of the crownarschip of Carrik … salffand to the kingis hienes service auch and wount 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 254.
Johne Sym offerit … to … mak the twa pannallis … and offerit to find souerteis for doing thairof vpoun his awne expens, sauffand to him the said tymmer and sowme of xl li. 1575 Reg. Privy S. VII 27/2.
Saulfand alwayis to oure soverane lord … the sufferage of devoit orisoun … aucht and wont to his hienes(c) 1477 Exch. R. VIII 403 n.
To be haldin … to the said Johne and Agnes … saulfing alanerly to ws and oure successouris the cariage of samekl of the saidis landis as the said Johne and Agnes occupiis and manuris nocht(2) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 441.
Bot sauand my senyeoury fra subiectioun And my lordscip vn-lamyt withoutin legiance All that I can to yone king … I sall preif all my pane to do hym plesance

B. prep. 1. Reserving or withholding only; except for; excepting, except. = Safe prep. 1.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 1363.
His straikis ar … of the best that leuand is In warld, saiffand the king allane 1425–6 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 202.
I sall infefft the said Dauy … in ten pundis wortht of land qwhar euer him likis best … safand anerly the chemys of the Bord 1437 Reg. Dunferm. 285.
Als mekil land liand on the south half thar oxgang safand a gate liang betuix of fourty fute brede a1500 Seven S. 427.
All … Left the castall … Saifand a barne a1500 Bk. Chess 2068.
Saiffand the moving of the kingis knycht 1505 Reg. Dunferm. 374.
To resing in the handis of James Abbot of Dunfermlyn his landis of Kildun … saiffand & reservand the franktenement of the said landis for al the dais of his lif 1532 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 99.
Quhilk salbe maid betweix the dait heirof and the nixt processioun saiffand the octavis of Corpus Christi day 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I 173.
And to deliuer thair schip agane with hir pertinentis safand awentour of see to the saidis Thomas and Robert 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 231.
Besekand yowr grace, sawend greteir besynis, advertys me gyf yowr grace ples command me ony wthyr service 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 182.
Ordanis James … to pay for the hale xvij stane of lint … saiffand that is the rafues of thre stane allanerlye a1595 Descr. Isles 429.
The sea cummis almaist betwix thame, saifand ane small grip of the lenth of twa … pair of buttis 1615 Black Bk. Taymouth 48.
Quhilkis all ȝeildit to, saifand Glenurquhay(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1946.
To my best hound … Quhilk I lude best, without ony compair, Saifing my wife [etc.] 1563 Edinb. B. Rec. III 170.
The said Jhonne had na vtheris guddis saifing his prenting irnis 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III 121.
They did sequester all my servandes from me, saiffing two 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 417. 1660 Old Ross-shire I 186.
Not to suffer said loadinges … to be wait or damnified … during said voadges, saiffing perells or men of war be sea(c) 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 48.
Bot thole the sayd Robert & hys airis joyis thaim frely … saufand the ten markys worth of land at is callit Murraf & Hedhouse [etc.] … and saufand the successyoun of lyne gyf it hapnis to faylȝe of the forsayd Robert 1400 Charter (Honess Doc. No. 1, Reg. H.) MS.
Al my landys of Kilmany saufand the landis the qwhilkis Alisander of Ceton haldis of me 1456 Hay II 20/37.
Na man may mak knychtis bot he be knycht before, sauffand the pape 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 168.
Thai sal … vphald the dykyng of the sayd hill to the sayd tym, sawuand hedromys of croftis 1483–4 Acta Aud. *131/2.
Becaus thar is accquittance schewin … of the remanent of the hale some salfand a mark 1491 Ib. 151/2.
Savffand 1513 Doug. i Prol. 155.
The thre first bukis he has ourhippyt quyte Salfand a litill twychyng Polidorus Ib. ix Prol. 96.
Salvand [Ruddim. Saufand] 1533 Bell. Livy I 18/9.
All ourecoverit sauffand thare hedis 15.. Dunb. App. vii 13.
Saufand beaute I can prise na mare Of hyr 1592 Waus Corr. 491.
Saulfand and exceptand allanerlie one half aikre of the foirsaidis landis(d) 1533 Bell. Livy I 13/8.
Becaus na thing was than restand amang thame sauffing thare mvnycioun and armoure 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 4.
Sauffing suche as ar attaynted 1570 Bann. Memor. 359.
And without ony provocatioun maid … saulffing assisting to the proclamatioun … he wes assaultit 1570 Leslie 202.
That thay wan litill honour … sauffing that thay brint the kirk of Annan 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 159.
Sa that na place thairof salbe … garnist saulffing the castellis and fortressis that … hes bene accustumat to be fortefeit 1592 Douglas Corr. 38.
Saulffing onlie a small tyme of abstinence frome crueltie and unlauchfull hostilitie 1594 Reg. Privy C. V 162.
Thay haveing nathing saulffing thair buikis in thair handis 1611 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 199.
Saulffing that particulair of pistollettis(e) 1427 Wemyss Chart. 53.
The said schire Jone of Wemys … sal for this fredome … be next in the hoppyr qwhays corn sa euire be thare in, saffand the said Jone Malvyle(f) 1386 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
The enhabitans of al Teuydale sauuant the forest of Jeddeworth Ib.
Ther sal be non entercomynyng betwene the roialmes sauant the manere exprimyt

2. Reserving, without prejudice to.(a) 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 117.
[He] gayf grund sessyng … to Sym Conno [etc.] … safand ilk manis rych 1493 Reg. Episc. Morav. 250.
To perten to the said Lard of Innes saifand all ryt of bundit chartir gif ony be 1541 Perth Guildry MS p. 513 (31 Oct.).
Saifand allwais the priuilege of fre burgessis of this burght 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 42.
Saifeand alwise the service to the other over-lord for the lands haldin of him Ib. ii 21b.
Saueand alwaie the fredom and liberties in sic cases, giuen to lords be kings of Scotland(b) 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 1.
Sawyn all mennis rychtis 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 71 (30 June).
Saiffing all other mennis rigchtis(c) 14.. Acts I 5/2.
Thai that hingit hym sal mak fine wyth the kyng saufand thaim lyf and memberis and disherisone Ib. 26/2 (see Safe prep. and conj. 1 b).
Sauffande 1490 Lanark B. Rec. 8.
Puttand erd and stane in thar handis as maner is, salfand ilke mannis rycht 1545 Reg. Privy S. III 193/1.
Sauffand the persecutioun of the caus befor the juge spirituall 1559–60 Ib. V i 171/1.
And saufand every mannis rycht obtenit heirto before 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 65.
Promitting that he suld doe ony thing possible to be done salfand his lyif(d) 1490 Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 49.
I gaiff … sesing [etc.] … saffand all menis rychtis 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I 200.
And gif ony … debait happinis amangis ony of the saidis craftis, thai till meyne the samyn amangis tham self … saffand the priuilegis pertenand to the toun

3. With deference to, with due respect to.(a) c1550-c1580 Art of Music 9b.
Thairfor (saiffand thair honour) guid it war to interdit [etc.] 1586–7 Cal. Sc. P. IX 328.
Saifane ȝowir lordshippe's better awys and opinione(b) 1528 Lynd. Dreme 152.
I … hir demandit, sauyng hir plesance, Quhat wes hir name 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10625.
Than said the sone, Sauing ȝour graces will, To that sentence na way grant will I till 1562-3 Winȝet I 9/18.
And ȝow (saifing ȝour dew honoris we speik)(c) 1527 Douglas Corr. 122.
Salffand the plessour of the kingis hienes ȝour soverane, and of your grace, I set it at litill

4. Leaving out of consideration, setting aside, not to mention. 1559 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 124.
[They] denyit the thrid and secund exceptionis peremptouris saufand the ineptitudis and irrelivantis thairof 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 160.
Ȝit considering thair injurious and intollerable proceadings afoir this tyme be secreit surmysis, salving thair untrew sklanderis agains our said soveranis honor, and now publiclie, ȝea and desperatelie braiging to cloik thairby thair treasonable doings, we cannot [etc.]

5. Avoiding, eschewing (a commitment or duty). 1615 Kirkwall Sheriff Ct. Act Bk. 5b.
Thair is mony inconstant sluggish & idle persones uha saveing service gives thameselves to traffict and play the merchant

C. conj. 1. Introducing a finite clause, with or without that, stating an exception: Except that.(a) 1395 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
Jon sal resyng al the landis … wyth al the fredomys … savand the for sayd Jon sal joys the frank tenement for the tym of his lyve 1472–3 Reg. Cupar A. I 168.
The sade Wilȝam beand alegyt and fre of al aucht and wunt seruys savand gyfe in tyme of harueyst we gader our tendis that he supple and help 1494 Loutfut MS 110b.
This bataile nedis na borrois of thair entrais … saiffand that euery partii sale enterchangis selis a1500 Bk. Chess 1544.
All the pepill of his tovne Askit at God for to depryve him dovne Saiffand thair was ane ald wyf … That for him prayit 14.. Reg. Cupar A. I 232.
He sal laboure … to mak tenentis vndir hym, saifand Donalde Makferchar sal remane with his tak for his lesing [pr. lefing] 15.. Clar. iv 2616.
All bair heided, saiffand he hade on his croune(b) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 85 (A).
Saufand that his spousyt wif aucht till haf … the innerhalf of the hous 1550 Lochwinnoch Par. 22.
[He shall] gife oure his lyferent of the foirsaidis landis … saulfand that gife the benefice … beis evictit … he sall have full and fre regres

2. Introducing an adv. phrase: Except. 1443 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 7.
Saiffing allenarly at Witsounday 1443 Ayr Chart. 28.
That the saide merchandis of Irwine … aucht to cum within … Are nouthir on the merkate day na yit nane uthir day of the wolk to tap na gudis of merchandise … sauffand anerly on the fare day 1527 Caldwell P. 59.
We sal tak the said erlis … part in all … quarellis … contrar ony personis, sevand in our sovrane lord the kyngis service 1564 Peebles B. Rec. I 297.
That na nebur … persow ane vther affor ony vthir juge sailfand affor the prowest and balyeis 1573 Inv. Q. Mary clvi.
As for the graithe of the stabill … he … denyis to haif had further intromission with ony of the same saulffing in ane coffer left [etc.] 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 696.
Thair salbe na passage ower Forth be the ferrie boittis at ony pairt, saulfing onlie betuix Leith and Brint Island