A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sideman, Sydman, n. [Sid(e n. 1 and Man n. Cf. e.m.E. side man (1570) an elected assistant to a churchwarden.] Of soldiers drawn up in formation: The soldier immediately adjacent. —1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 24.
Their swordes doe chap and are entangled vpon their side-men, so that they annoy their side-men, and themselues are hindered to turne 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 76.
In this battell the see the first man of euery ranke with his sydman that is to say, the first two files on the right flank HK are turned & are countermarching through the distances betwixt the ranks 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 93.
When closing the battell bee the sydemen and the followers we turne it whollie as the body of an man either to the picke or the target
