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.
Seman, n. Also: see-, sey-, sea-, si-man, simanne. [ME (pl.) sæ-monnen, see-mannen (both Layamon), see-menne (1436), seamen (1540), (sing.) sea-man (1569), OE sǽman, Du. zeeman.] A seaman, sailor, fisherman. Also possess. and attrib.Seamans starres, glossed as ‘the seven stars’, i.e. the Pleiades.c1475 Wall. ix 40.
Semen he feyt, and gaiff thaim gudlye wage c1475 Wall. ix 50.
The seymen than … Ankyrs wand in wysly on athir syd; Thair lynys kest, and waytyt weyle the tyd 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 333.
To Johne Murisone, seyman, at brocht the king fra the gret schip 1535 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 299b.
The samyn daye Thome McNeich & his seymen … for the vrangus occupyng of the sandis but lesens of the thovne 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 322.
To charge certane seymen of Robert Allane cumpanye to pay thair ransoumes to the Inglischemen their takkarris 1557 Ayr Chart. 44.
Merchandis and uthiris strangeris seymen and marinaris resortand to thair port and watteris 1564–5 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 14.
Simanne 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 22 Aug.
The quhilk dey William Geddy mariner producit his claime agains James Robertsoun seman 1596 Dalr. I 3/11.
Thay [sc. the Greeks] being sa noble seymen, and sa expert in sayling 1596 Dalr. I 25/21.
The seymen and marinelis [L. a nautis] 1600-1610 Melvill 263.
To mak sic dewgard and curtessie to pure simen 1609 Inverness Rec. II 70. 1661 Acts VII 258/1.
That … all ships … belonging to this kingdome shall be navigated only by Scotismen … at least the master and three fourt parts of the seamen being such 1667 Edinb. Test. LXXIII 86.
Ane cairt … and some small instruments belonging to ane seaman 1672 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 25 April.
For the levieing of twa seamen or fishermen for his majesties service 1672 Rothesay B. Rec. 226.
Anent the clame persewit be Archibald Glas as procuratour for John Glas … for nyntein merks of fie promeist him … he being at the herring fisching … the persewars procuratour declarit the persewar wald be furthcumand for any skayth the boit susteinit in the persewar, being seeman, his default quhen it sould be maid out 1690 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 390.
Seemanpossess. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 21/50.
Heir [shine] the Seamans starres and there Twinnis bright 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 93.
Seamans starres, the seauin starres —1673 Leith Customs 5.
20 dozen seamens neckcloaths valued 40 d.attrib. 1677 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 31 Dec.
Jon. Wmsone and Thomas Whyte for the seamen incorporatione hes … desairted the stent roll
