A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Syour, Sivour, n. Also: scyoure, schiour, syer, syre, (syon), sayer, -eor, siver, syvour, -er. [OF essavier, essevour a drainage channel, late L. *exaquaria, f. exaquatoria, in the same sense. (Eng. sewer, of the same ultimate origin, corresponds to ONF dial. se(u)wiere (1261 in Greimas), late L. seweria. The Sc. form appears to be an independent borrowing from F.). Also in the mod. dial.] A drain or water-channel; a street-gutter; a sewer; a drainage-ditch. Also attrib.(a) 1500–1 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 113.
The syouris to ryne as alde vse and wonte 1535 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXIII 96.
[Tenants ordered to pay for a] syour [from the head of the wynd to the foot] 1539 Edinb. Guild Ct. 12 April.
To big vp ane massy wall betuix his new land in Bestis wynd and the syour of the closet of Mergaret (Strachan) 1558–9 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV 12.
To mak ane cobill forgane thair awin landis for serving thairof and the common syour, gif ony hes been throw the said wynde discendand doun to the Cowgaitt to be closit and distroyit for evir 1561–2 Edinb. Old Acc. I 361.
Making of ane syour for saffing of Jhone Meinȝeis land fre the under walter of the Museweile 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 348.
The soill of the syour of the rin of the said loch to be repairit 1648 Glasgow B. Rec. II 128.
To put to workmen for casting of ane water syour for drying of the Blak Quarrell —1695 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 149.
Ten foot of passage betwixt the said gavell and the said stable for the common syon [? erron. for syo(u)r] to run in(b) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 523.
To cast ane scyoure on the est syd of the place 1546 Edinb. Guild Ct. 25 April.
The drope thairof to pas in the schiour of the said closet & conduct as the said Michael sall devis(c) 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I 75.
Gevin to David Weir for the flagging of the syre at the West Port 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 357.
For the raissing of ane syre in the Cowgait … and for … clenging of the syars 1666 Glasgow B. Rec. III 84.
Divers persones … who hes … killes narrest the said syre, castis in stra, … quhilk stops the passage of the water … and jorgs wp 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X 269.
[Whether] the excrescence water of the fountaine … shall be caried away by a syre … to the Colledge Kirk yaird for the … publick washing of linnings 1680 Sempill P. 52/37.
He and I lap o'er many a syre(d) 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 254.
For bringing of iiii laid of clay to the clenged sayeor at the inner yet 1722 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 158.
For laying a sayer at the head of the new street, cheeks, soles and covers thereto(e) 1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 242.
For rasing and clenging and closing agane of certane sivouris in the abbay(f) 1663 Stirling Common Good 13b.
For 2 days work in laying the syver at the foote of the Mary wynd[£1 6 s. 8 d.] 1672 Mylne Master Masons 179.
All which syvers are to be … covered with flag stones … for caryeing away … the sds raines and water falling from the rooffe 1674 M. Works Acc. XXX 3.
Payed to workmen … for winning of stones for the great syver 1682 Edinb. City Archives Moses Bundle 254 No. 7738.
For work and furniture in digging and lugeing of ane syver through the back forge 1697 Dallas Stiles 774.
Lie sinks, sivers, guttars [etc.]attrib. 1561–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I 427.
Ane irne tirlis above upone the syvour hole 1582 Brechin Test. I 46b.
Four syer veschell price iij li.
