Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SAVE, v., n.1 Sc. usages. For Sc. forms see Sauf and Safe.
I. v. 1. As in Eng. (1) Derivs.: (i) saver, (a) a contrivance which gives safety to a swimmer, a life-belt or something equivalent; (b) = (ii) below (Sc. 1952 Builder (20 June) 943); (ii) savingstone, a stone built over a lintel to distribute the load of the wall above to the jambs (Ib.; Per., Ayr. 1969). Cf. safe lintel s.v. Safe; (iii) savir soam, see quot.; (2) phr. to save (a lady), to drink a toast to (see quot.).(1) (i) (a) Slg. 1885 W. Towers Poems 182:
Proud was the heart o' ony bairn, When he, wi' lusty stroke, And savers crossed the auld canal.(iii) Ork. 1903 G. Marwick Old Roman Plough (1936) 7:
There is a small hole in the underside of the ore part of the foregill. This hole is for the “savir soam” — saving rope — of the plough, in the event of striking a rock, etc., that would break the trauchle-pin — sheep's leg bone — the “savir soam” being connected or being looped into the trauchle soam, the savir soam would at once pull the plough up out of the ground.(2) Edb. 1792 W. Creech Fugitive Pieces (1815) 112:
The barbarous custom of saving the ladies, after St Cecilia's concert, by gentlemen drinking immoderately to save a favourite lady, as his toast, has been for some years given up.Edb. 1856 R. Chambers Traditions 142:
Drinking to save the ladies is said to have originated with a catch-club, which issued tickets for gratuitous concerts. Many tickets with the names of ladies being prepared, one was taken up, and the name announced. Any member present was at liberty to toast the health of this lady in a bumper, and this insured her ticket being reserved for her use. If no one came forward to honour her name in this manner, the lady was said to be damned, and her ticket was thrown under the table.
2. To draw a boat up on the shore for the winter (Cai. 1969). Appar. a translation of Gael. gleidh, to preserve.Inv. 1884 Crofters' Comm. Evidence I. 114, 141:
The nearest port to you is Portree? — Yes, that is the nearest place to save a boat in the winter time . . . Doubtless, we would make a good wage at it [fishing] if we had convenience for saving ourselves — drawing up our boats.Rs.
Ib. II. 1052:
Was the quay that was there before sufficiently good for what you required? — Yes, we could save our boats there.
II. n. = I. 1. (1) (ii) above (Sc. 1952 Builder (20 June) 943; Cai. 1969).
