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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.

SEY, n.³ Also s(e)ie, sy. [sɑe]

†1. The part of a carcase of beef extending from the shoulder to the loin and corresponding to the shoulder steak and sirloin in the Eng. method of cutting, called in Scot. respectively foresey, Foresye, and Backsey, q.v.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 12:
His squeamish stomach loaths the savory sey.Per. 1737 Ochtertyre Ho. Bk. (S.H.S.) 65:
Sent a hinde quarter of the cow to Gray, and a fore say to Fentry.Abd. 1753 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 2) IV. 29:
A Large Sey of Roast Beef.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xxxiv.:
It's a bit o' the tenony hough mair by token that yours, Maggie, is out o' the back sey.Sc. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 168:
The sirloin, or back sey. . . . The spare rib, or fore sey.

2. The arm-hole of the sleeve of a coat, jacket or dress (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai., Uls. 1904 E.D.D.; Ork. 1929 Marw., sie). Gen.Sc., in tailors' usage.Ags. 1729 A. J. Warden Burgh Laws Dundee (1872) 457:
His weekly work is 18 fouorth sys working and 28 dighten, 20 mangrels working and 20 dighton, 22 third sys working and 21 dighton.Ags. 1779 Ib. 438:
To one shiling to drink while I was chalking out the sie.Fif. 1882 S. Tytler Sc. Marriages III. 228:
The “sit”, and the “hang”, the width of the “sey”, . . . of Mrs Dunlop's children's dresses.