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.
Quotation dates: 1621-1686
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Saul(l)ie, n. Also: salie. [Saul(l n. Also in the later dial.] A hired mourner. — 1621 Acts IV 626/1.
That no duillweidis be givin to herauldis, trumpetoris or saullies except by the earlis and lordis and thair wyffes 1625 Balfour Her. Tracts 101.
Tuentie four saulies, 2 and 2, in order, the foremost of them carying one hes staffe a gumpheon 1625 Ib. 106, etc.1636 Marquis Huntly's Funeral Roll MS. (Nat. Mus. Antiq.) (see Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LXXVII. 154–173.)
Twenty four hoodies or saulies tua & tua 1654 Rogers Social Life I 161.
Salies 1686 Mackenzie Observ. 365.
And Saint Chrisostom condemns feign'd mourners, whom we call saulies, because they pray for the souls of the dead
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