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.
Semi, Semy, n. Also: semie, semey, semé. [Abbrev. form of Semibajan n.]
1. At the Scottish universities: A second-year student. Cf. Semi-baccalaurei n. pl. and Semibajan n.For further examples see Bajan n. 1.1628 Butler Leighton 55.
There was a fight between our classe and the semies, [sc. at Edinburgh University] c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. p. 4.
The presant auditories of the semies & batchelars were employed for chambers 1689 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. VII 168.
[[In 1689] the students of Mar[ischal] College were grouped as] magistrants, tertians, semies, and begians 1691 Presbyterian Inquisition 99.
He never fail'd to have semies, bauchelours, and magistrands, who were never at any colledge before, and he admitted them to be scholars, without offering them to be examined by the principal or masters 1692 Comm. Univ. I (Edinb.) App. 38.
That none be admitted semies in one colledge who have not been at another before … or who have learned the Greek grammar 1698 Comm. Univ. I (Edinb.) App. 43.
And in the afternones the bagans and batchelers meets on day, and the semes and magistrands on an other day 1704 Old Ross-shire I 63.
I asked Mr. Ross as to your son if he be readie for colledge to enter a semie [sc. at Aberdeen Univ.] and not com in this year 1697-1707 D. Hume Accompt of Estate 6.
The 11th of March was solemnly keeped by the semies, in going to the foot-ball on the Borrow Moor
2. comb. With class, regent, schole and yeire.(1) 1662 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 288.
A number of the schollers of the semi classe 1691 Presbyterian Inquisition 38.
Mr. Gourlay … attempted to teach the semy [marg. second] class in Mr. Kennedy's absence 1691 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II 360.
To delay the making any act hindring schollars who have lairned their Greek to enter into the semiclasse 1695 Comm. Univ. I (Edinb.) App. 42.
That none be admitted or received into the semi class but upon strict tryall of their proficiencie in the Greek tongue 1695 Comm. Univ. II (Glasg.) App. 270.
We allso think it fitt, that upon a vacation the regent of the bagan classe ascend to the semie classe, and so the rest in their order(2) 1688 Dalzel Hist. Univ. Edin. (1862) II 197.
If they find him to have any competent skill in the Greek language, they are to signify the same … unto the Semi Regent(3) 1660 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 201.
Ane of the regents of the Colledge … made report of the insufficiencie of the semischole desyring the samen might be inlarged for the use of the schollers 1660 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 204.
To repaire the semischooll and baisler schooll … for accommodatioun of the schollers —1660 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 201 marg.
Semischole Colledge(4) 1659 Lamont Diary 114.
May, 1660, he entered bajan with Mr. Ja. Weyms, maior, regent ther. He staid his semey yeire with him 1695 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) App. 217.
Next, in the second or semi-year we teach the logicks and nothing else, except arithmetick and some of Euclid's Elements 1697-1707 D. Hume Accompt of Estate 5.
In my semie year I was boarded in one Mr. Nisbet's
