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.
Sewster, -ar(e, Schewster, n. Also: seuster, sewaster, -ister, -istare, sowstar, schuister, shooster. [ME and e.m.E. sewster (1391), sywestre (Piers Plowman, v.rr. sowesteur, sewestare, sewestre, soustere); Sew v. and -ster.] A person, chiefly a woman, who sews as an occupation.(a) 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II 72.
To ane sewstar … of holmwark 1573 Treas. Acc. XII 354.
Grissell Gray, sewstar of oure soverane lordis sarkis 1581 Treas. Acc. MS 932b.
Sewstare 1597 Treas. Acc. MS 38b.
Grissell Hammilton maistres sewstar 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 80.
Sevster 1609 Edinb. Test. Index II 272.
Margaret Mason, sewster 1636 Rec. Old. Aberd. I 350. c1650 Spalding I 377.
The tailȝouris and cordineris … to mak wp thir clothis, schoois, and sewsteris to sew sarkis ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 162.
Sed needlo per seustram broddatus 1673 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 49.
Booge is a sewster(b) 1546 Treas. Acc. IX 31.
Send … to Besse Murray, sewaster, witht hollande claith to be sarkis to my lord governour 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 223.
To Jonet Bell, sewistar, for hir lauboures and hir servandes upoun the beddis, schetis and other necessaris, and to by threid 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 368.
Sewister 1621 Perth Kirk S. 9 Jan.
Margaret Andersone sewister(c) 1596 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 145.
The counsall … ordanis that Margr'an Williamsone sowstar learn na mens childrene fra this furth, bot that all mens childrene be putt to the grammer scoill(d) 1610 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 73.
John McClellane schuister 1615 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 168.
Schewster 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 62a (25 Oct.).
Andro Forbes schewster 1695 R. Brown Paisley I 337.
Helen Pirrhie, shooster
