A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Schereman,) Shear(e)man, n. Also: sheer-. [ME and e.m.E. sermon (a1275), scherman (1279), shereman (1379); Scher(e v.] One who ‘shears’, or clips off, superfluous nap from woollen cloth; a shearman. = S(c)herar n. 1. —1682 New Mills Manuf. 21.
John Home to goe presently to the west of Ingland and there procure us 2 shear-men [etc.]. … The shear-mens wages from 6 s. to 7 s. 6 d. sterling per week 1683 Ib. 59.
Sheermen 1687 Ib. 139, etc.
Ane inventarie of all the sheirs, boards or other materiall that the shearmen [etc.] … have in ther custodie 1695 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 819 (13 Sept.).
[John Blearre] sheareman [in Dalbetie]
