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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.

Sear, n. Also: seer, sier, siar. [ME and e.m.E. seer (Wyclif); Se v.] One who sees, in various senses of the verb.

1. One who sees or witnesses, a witness (of something). 1567 Acts II 552/1.
The first sear & findar [sc. of libellous placards] … salbe punist in the samin maner as the first inventar writtar [etc.] 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 24.
Robert Wat … gaif vp James Lachland … to haif bein ane siar of the begining of the tumvlt raisit be Symon Wallace

2. One who sees divine revelations or visions of the future, or has the gift of second-sight. 1563 Ferg. Tracts 48.
O thou sear (sayeth Amizias) go fle thou away into the land of Juda 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 302.
Perceiving him to stair a little strangely, I conjectured him to be a seer 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 448.
Seer, wizard, or a people of the second sight are they that telleth of things befor or to come after

3. An official (in a burgh) appointed to inspect the quality of goods, orig. chiefly skins, or to check standards of workmanship; an inspector, overseer or supervisor. 1498 Reg. Privy S. I 28/1.
Alexander Craufurd … Settar and sear of skinnys within the said burgh of Edinburgh 1506 Reg. Privy S. I 192/1.
Sercharis, searis and settaris of al maner of skynnis, claith and uthir gudis 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 314/1. 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 402/2.
A lettre maid … to William Kemp … makand him tronare of the said burgh, serchare, sear and settare of woll 1528–9 Reg. Privy S. I 587/2.
Ane lettre maid to Florence Corntoun … makand him sear of all maner of skynnis custumable, als well cordit as pakkat 1542–3 Reg. Privy S. III 7/2. 1561 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XVI 96.
The … consell … he chosin Peter Rig dein or sear of thair mercait 1604 Stirling B. Rec. I 111.
The provest baillies and counsall … apointes James Short and Duncane Patersoune to be seares of the wark [sc. clearing a ford] and furnessouris of warklomes thairto

4. ? A watchman. 1605 Melvill 585.
The not knawing the day of our visitatioune in thingis perteining to our awin peice, neither by the sieris and watchmen nor be the peiple