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.
Se-rever, n. Also: see-, sey-, sea-, seæ-, sie- and -revar(e, -revair, -rewar, -rewer, -rewir, -river, -reiffar. [e.m.E. sea-rover (1579-80); Se n.1 and Refar n.] A sea-robber, a pirate.1513 Doug. vii vi 48.
Ȝone fals sey revar [Sm. see rewir, Ruddim. se reuer] wil leif in sturt, God wayt c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. cx.
One Robert Bertoun, one verre pyrett and sey revare 1530 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 326.
Divers schippis reft and spulȝeit … be ane sey revair callit Knyphoif 1531 Treas. Acc. V 440.
To arreist the sey revaris 1533 Bell. Livy II 189/8.
Quhen thai war tane be sey revaris [B. reiffaris] namyt Liparanis 1567 Digest Justiciary Proc. F 34.
James Edmunstoun and Johnne Blacader … commoun piratis and see revaris 1567 Digest Justiciary Proc. F 35.
The foirsaid piratis commoun theves and sea revaris 1575–6 Conv. Burghs I 44.
The … commissaris vnderstanding the seais to be replenischit with piratis and sea revaris, and in speciall with Flessingaris … vnder the Prince of Orange dominioun 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Pyrata, a sea-rewar, a pyrate 1602 Conv. Burghs II 138.
To fall amangis thair enymeis handis or sey reweris 1610 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 344.
Ane commoun and deteistabill pirat and sie river 1622-6 Bisset II 228/14.
All decreittis … contrare seæ revaris
