Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡SAW, n.¹ Also sa(a), sau. Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. salve, unguent, ointment (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1942 Zai). See P.L.D. §§ 70. 3., 78. 1. Freq. in proverbial phrs. as in quots. below. [sɑ:, sǫ:]Sc. 1745 R. Chambers Hist. Rebellion (1869) 137:
A quantity of chocolate, found in General Cope's carriage, was afterwards sold publicly in the streets of Perth, under the denomination of Johnnie Cope's Saw — that is, salve.Bnff. c.1810 W. Cramond Old Cullen (1882) 38:
“Cerat'sa'” to heal wounds was supplied in a mussel shell.Sc. 1823 Scots Mag. (May) 588:
I'll anoint every bruise wi' Marion's bourtree sa'.Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Proverbs 89:
Seek your sa' whare you got your sair.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 70:
She had a rinnin' in her head, an' wanted a twa three bawbees to get saw.Ayr. 1876 J. Ramsay Gleanings 18:
Come, a wee drap mair, And let the saw just seek the sair.Wgt. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 30:
“O! Salve — saw”, says the Doctor. “You know what saw is”.Fif. 1912 D. Rorie Mining Folk 407, 413:
“Let the sau sink to the sair”, was said jestingly as a reason for drinking whisky instead of rubbing it in as an outward application. . . . Dinna hae the sau waitin' on the sair (i.e. do not anticipate trouble).Rnf. 1920 J. Donald Greenock Charact. 76:
Go you to Figgins in Greenock and you'll get a “sa-a” for to cure that.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 93:
A peerie box o' growin saa.Mry. 1956 Northern Scot (7 April):
See! here's a clean clootie, Ah've spread it wi' saw, Tae haud it fae bailin' an' keep dirt awa.