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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Over-, Owerséar, n. Also: ovir-, owir-, -yr- and -sier, -seir, -seer, -siear(e, -seier, -seyar(e, -siar, -syer. [ME. and e.m.E. overseer(e (1395), -sear (1530), f. Oversév.: cf. Ourséar n.]

1. A person appointed to superintend a public charge of some kind; a superintendent, supervisor or public inspector.The allocation of a few of the quots. to particular sub-senses is doubtful.(1) 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 74.
To be elected and appoynted superintendentis and owersearis every man to the diocy assigned to his cherge 1564–5 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 532/1.
Hir majestie makis … Williame Aikman induellare of the toun of Dieppe … hir hienes sercheoure and owirsear … gevand … him full power … to serche and seik all Scottis schippis 1573 Ib. VI. 371.
That the hospitallis within this realme be sufficientlie intertenit and that maisteris and owersearis be appoyntit thairto 1575 Reg. Privy C. II. 512.
And in caise the regentis grace appoint ane to be oversear for the Kingis majesteis part and the partinaris appoint ane uther to be maister of werk for thame the said Abrahame … to deliver the gummis … to the maister of werk … in presens of the said oversear 1588 Perth Guildry 447.
The said Dioneis to be maister of werk, Thomas Mony and James Adamsone to be ouersearis thairto with the said Dioneis and gif thair auis thairanent 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 54.
That the maisteris of the hospitall of the Trinity College … be appoyntet owlklie visitouris and owerseyaris of the said other hospitall of the lipperis 1595 Ib. 140.
And owt of the number present that he electt and deputt ane qualefeyet persoun … commanding him to owersie and attend upoun the rest [of the watch] … and that the said baillie … unlaw … the said owersear gif he refuis to do his dewty 1618 Orkney Bishop Ct. in Sc. Hist. Rev. XIV. 49.
It is statut … with consent of the haill parrochine that the persones underwritten sal be oversears, rancellaris and dittaymen under the bailie 1619 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 278.
To repair thame [roofs] witht leid … as the forsaidis overseieris [sc. a body of inspectors appointed by a commission of inquiry into the state of the University edifice] sall think meitt 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III. iii.
The maister of the said hous [of correction] salbe obleist to keip ane register book quhairin to insert the … proceedingis of those who salbe appointit owersieris of the said hous 1673 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 145.
[Regulations for St. Paul's Work] The oversiers or thesaurers of the said work … sall giue in ane accompt of ther intromissione once in two year 1681 Ib. XI. 23.
Robert McKie ventiner burges of this burgh to be ovirsier to the saids muckmen 1689 Stirling B. Rec. II. 55.
John Murray [etc.] … oversiers nominat and appoynted by the estates of this kingdome to the electione of the magistrats(2) 1567 Arch. Scot. IV. 408.
Sir Andro Murray of Arnegosk knicht principall keipar and owirsear of oure said park 1614 Keeping of Deer Forests in Argyll Mun. (Misc. 17th c.) 2 July.
[Two men] to be forestares and oversearis of Buchilletie 1645 S. Leith Rec. 59.
Ro't Alexander to be overseer in the linkes 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 250.
John Whit cainer and overseer of the water(3) 1665 Old Ross-shire II. 82.
Donald Ros elder and younger to be full guiders and oversiers of the said knock & bell and haill workes theroff … to keep the samen in guid ordoure(4) 1563 Ferg. Answer 26 b.
That flock wherof the Holy Ghoste hath made me ouersear

b. One elected or appointed as head or superintendent of a craft.His duties appar. included supervision of the conduct of the members and the quality of their workmanship. 1570 Inverness Rec. I. 195.
The haill craft of the skynnar craft … hes chosin and electit Williame Donaldson … dekin and owyrsear of the said craft 1641 Acts V. 503/1.
Full … libertie … to the said hatmakers [of Edinburgh] of ane oversear and quartermaister yeerlie off ther owne calling to be elected … be the proveist [etc.] … of Edinburghe

c. A works manager, overseer, foreman or chargehand. d. A manager or overseer, either in sole charge or subordinate to a master of works, who gave daily attendance on and supervision of a building job.c. 1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II. 512.
The said ure to be affynit for ane pruif in lyk maner in presens of the said owirsear chosin be the said Abraham 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 271.
The councill apoynts the said George Whyt to be oversier of the said work [of the water supply] 1676 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 12 Feb.
As the value of the uncost ticketts allowed by the coalȝieris to the master weekly which was formerly allowed to Carswell and others who were overseeris of the said coallworkis 1679 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. (see Over(i)sman n. 1 d). 1695 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXV. 63.
Two oversiers [in a paper-mill] whose work is att the fatt two cocheers [etc.]d. 1583 Reg. Privy S. in M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. xxviii.
[William Schaw to be] grit maister of wark [of all his highness' palaces, etc., and] greit oversear directour and commandar of quhatsumevir palice [etc.] 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 18.
In respect of the greitnes of the wark for reparatioun of the kirk … ordanis the dene of gild to place ane owerseyare 1615 Reg. Privy S. in M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. xxii.
[To be] maister ouersear and attendar of all his majesties workis of reparatioun … and waitter upon the craftismen [etc.] 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 36.
To Thomas Faulisdaill oversyer this weik 1618 Ib. 108.
To Duncane Patersone overseer 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS. 18 May.
Quhilk Dauid Sibbald maister and owersier to the said wark ressaueit 1632 Reg. Privy S. in M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. xxii.
[To be] principallis oversiearis and attendaris of all his hienes warkis [etc.] … with power … in absence of the principal maisteris of wark over all the haill … craftismen all uther oversiearis and under officiaris concerning his hienes warkes 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS. 21.
The four workmen with the oversier for thair morneing drink 1655 Dumbarton B. Rec. 67.
Robert Glen who wes appoynted overseir of the wark and building of the common key

e. One appointed to supervise or manage the affairs of another. 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 130.
He neidis not work that hes ane gude ouersear a1578 Pitsc. I. 80/8.
Being constitut procuratour and owersiear of all effairis belangin to him in Scottland in his absence

f. Overseer of the poor.After the English parish officer, whose office was created in 1601 by Act 43 Eliz. c. 2, appointed to perform various administrative duties connected with poor-relief. 1655 Instruct. Justices Peace 15.
Two … persons … in every parish to landward to be overseers of the poor

2. a. A person appointed in a testament to advise and assist the executors and see that they carry out the terms of the will. b. A person appointed in a testament to advise, assist and look after the interests of the widow and/or pupil or minor heirs. = Overman n. 2, Over(i)sman n. 2, Ourman n. 2, Our(i)sman n. 2. 1564–75 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 49.
I … ordanis Jhone Stirling … oydman owirman and owirsear in my testament that all be done as I have ordanit 1616 Edinb. Test. XLIX. 178 b.
I nominat … Allexander Wilkie … and Dauid Samuell to be doaris and oversearis for my bairnis 1623 Sc. Ant. VI. 182.
Gif ony of my sevin sones mak ony neidles ploy or actioun contrair my wyiff or ony of thame againis ane other and refuse to submit the decision of the samen debaittis to the foresaidis oversearis quhome I haif appointed … than [etc.] 1633 Edinb. Test. LVI. 184 b.
Thomas Deanes … quhome I ordane to be consultar and oversear to thame 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 199.
Wnto my saidis executores and owersier 1651 Buccleuch Mun. II. 292.
Oversiars 1681 Stair Inst. i. vi. 26.
Tutory ceaseth by the action of removing suspect tutors … ordinarily it is done by the overseers, mother or friends of the pupil 1682 Bk. Carlaverock I. 405.
We nominat [them] … to be assisters, advysers and ovirsiers to our said countes in the said office of tutorie 1694 Rothesay B. Rec. 495.
Oversier

c. One appointed in a legal disposition to see that its terms are carried out. 1655 Lamont Diary 93.
He haueing … disponed his liferent to his creditors, his brother Hatton and Kincraige being ouerseiers in the disposition

3. One who overlooks or condones misdeeds. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 203.
To punish the committers and overseers of these iniquities 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 78.
The. trusters in, ouer-seers, interteiners or sturrers vp of these craftes-folkes, are equallie guiltie with themselues that are the practisers