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.
Sawar, -er(e, n.2 [ME and e.m.E. sawere (c1175), sowere (c1200), sower (1380), sawer (c1450), OE sawere; Saw v.1] A sower.
1. One who sows seed. Also in fig. context.a1500 Henr. Fab. 1724.
Sum sawand seidis fast frome place to place The harrowis hoppand in the saweris trace c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xiii 18.
Sawerefig. a1574 Three Reformèrs 13.
Cankcarit corruptars of the Creid, Homlok sawares amangest good seid
2. transf. One who disseminates, promotes or propagates (discord, sedition, etc.).1533 Boece 84b.
Remembering how he … had removit the sawaris and movaris of all divisioun 1533 Bell. Livy I 271/7.
Seditious lymmaris sawaris [L. semina] of discorde 1535 Stewart 17584.
Ane scismatike and sawer of discord 1560 Bk. Disc. 235. 1562-3 Winȝet II 6/30. a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii 2. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 24/16. 1571 Bann. Memor. 142.
Gif I knew who wer the authoris or sawaris of sic vild brutes 1596 Dalr. II 58/24.
Sum … vncannie sawers sew … causes of contentioun c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiii 102.
They ar not rycht Bot saweris of idolatrie
