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: 1501-1691
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Saw, n.3 Also: sawe, sau-. [ME and e.m.E. sagh (Cursor M.), sawe (c1340), saȝe, sae (both a1450), saw (1495), OE saga.]
1. A saw, the tool.Also with defining words, indicating special types or purposes, etc., as in dismembering (leg) saw; hand saw; iron saw; tenent saw; tug saw and whip saw.For further examples with defining words, see Arm n. 4; Armit adj.2; Bakkit adj.; Bow-saw n., and Rug-saw n.1501 Acts Lords of Council II 477.
Thre sawis ane armyt a tugsaw a handsaw [etc.] 1532 Treasurer's Accounts VI 155.
For ane saw send to the werkmen 1574 Edinburgh Testaments III 86.
Ane aiche & ane saw 1600–1 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 162.
Ane saw and furmour plane [etc.] … pertaining to ane wrycht 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 326.
Tenent sawes … whip sawes … leg sawes 1691 Archaeologia Scotica I 180.
[Paul Martin's essay to be] a dismembering saw for the leg, a trepan [etc.]
2. Attrib. and comb. in saw-bled (= blade); saw-tre (= some part of a mill); saw-man, -wricht.(1) 1597 Edinburgh Testaments XXX 290b.
Four saw bleddis estimat to iij lib.(2) 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I 294.
The expenses of the Lytill Myl in rasying hir saw tree and hir quheles and mending hir foirschot 1558–9 Ib. 289, 295.(3) 1506 Treasurer's Accounts III 339.
To the saw wrichtis of Lochmaban that tha wantit of thair wages, xxviij s. 1607 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 334. 1657 Dumfries Kirk S. 12 Feb.
John Blak the saw-wright 1666 Greyfriars Interments 181.
Dobie, Robert, sawman, his child 1666 Ib. 239.
Gairns, John, … sauman in Todrick's Wynd
