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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Stairheid, -head, n. Also: staire-, starehead, ster heid. [e.m.E. stayer hede (1534-5), steare head (1569), stairhead (1607); Stair n.] The top of a flight of steps or stairway, chiefly used to indicate location; the part of a building so indicated. Also of the stairway in a coal-mine.(1) 1564–5 Black Friars Edinb. 93.
[The] foir midmest buith above the stairheid 1564–5 Glasgow Prot. III 66.
With the sellar and brewhous closand the gavill dure upone the stairheid for the thrid pairt 1568 Glasgow Prot. IV 2.
The litill chop at the stairhead 1605 Black Bk. Taymouth 344.
A bewett at the stair head 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 63.
For a vindow in the auld stair heid 1621 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 8 Jan.
He upon the tolbuith stairheid in presens of the said provest usit verie disdainfull & contemptible comparisonis 1642 Baillie II 20.
That I may cause George dresse the studie in the stairhead, whilk will be a commodious room for you 1654 Dumfries Council Min. MS 11 May.
The littill hous in the stairheid of the prysoun 1662 Edinb. Surgeons 311a.
Tua of the brethrene taking chopes in one stair head 1671 Kirkwall Sheriff Ct. Deeds MS.
In the toofall on the stair-head the long irons 1693 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 80.
Call the said Robert Brock at the tolbooth stairhead to answer to the said lybell(b) 1612 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 101.
For daills & workmanschipe to the starehead of the school loft(2) 1672 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 14 Sept. (see Stair n. 1 d).
Staire head 1683 Fawside Coal Compt 107.
To the beirers for the ster heid 6 s.