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.
(Serviceabill,) Serviceable, Serwiciabill, adj. Also: serviciable, servicabill, serwiciabyll, serwysiabyll. [ME and e.m.E. seruisable (Manning), seruisiable (Chaucer), servicable (Gower), seruiceable (c1430), also servysiable (1483), OF servisable (c1155 in Larousse), med. L. serviciabilis (Du Cange).] a. Ready or willing to serve. = Servabill adj. b. Of service: That has been helpful or useful. —a. c1420 Wynt. v 182.
A lyowne thaim kepyd be the way, that serwysiabyll [C. serwiciabill, W. seruiciable] wes to thaim ay 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 44/28.
An other sorte [sc. of spirit] … are seruiceable vnto them in all kinde of their necessaries 1628 St. A. Baxter Bks. 88.
To be obedient and servicabill to thair maisteris, and to plaise thair callandis 1695 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 595.
[Promising to be] a dilligent obedient and serviceable servant —b. 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 88.
And serviciabyll service done to me in tymes bypast and to cum
