Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sete, Seit(e, Sait, Set(t, n. Also: seitt, seyt(e, ceyt, sceit, seat(e, seatt, saitt, sayt, sat(e, satte, saet. [ME and e.m.E. sæte (Orm), sate (a1200), sete (Layamon), sette (Cursor M.), seet(e (a1400), seatt (c1440), seyt (Cath. Angl.), ON sǽti.]

I. A manner or mode of sitting.

1. Manner of sitting (on horseback). 1456 Hay II 48/17.
And rycht as he is ferme and seker in his sete sa suld he be ferme and seker in his curage in justice [etc.]

2. A court of justice or administration; the members of a court collectively, those comprising a particular sitting. = Court n. 3. Chiefly with defining terms, as, sete of justice, judiciall sete, etc. Also transf. in mercie sait. Also attrib.See also Jugement sait n. for further examples. 1490 Irland Mir. III 120/14.
The king … suld … stand ferme as ane angel in the trone seit and place of iustice c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 74/47.
Patriarchis, profeitis [etc.] … And all the saitt [M. hewinlie court] celestiall 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 72.
He ekit the sete of his counsale with maa assessouris than wes afoir 1538 Acts Sederunt i 37.
Maister James Foulis, Clerk of Registre protestit in oure souerane lordis behalf, priuelege of his realme and seite of justice that his grace nor his Lordis of Counsale be not astrenyeit to obey ony inhibicionis fra ony juge spirituale bot that thai mai proceid in ony mater and gif lettres conforme to justice 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxiii.
To require my Lord Huntlie … to be present with my Lord of Aberdene and his lordschips seitt at the dayis appointit 1565 Reg. Privy S. V i 690/1.
At the erectioun of the jugement sait of commissarie 1558-66 Knox I 406.
Leith … the … furnitour of the Counsall and Sait of Justice 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 378.
For the administratioun of justice upoun offendouris … in the north partis … far distant frome the ordinar sait of justice 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 173.
The kingis majestie and Lordis of Secreit Counsale understanding the inconvenientis … of justice dalie occurring throw the cuming of partiis to justice courtis with gret convocatioun of thair freindis armit … commandis his hienes justice; justice-clerk [etc.] … that quhenevir ony partiis repairis to the cheif saitt of justice or uther rowmes quhair the justice or his deputis sal happin to mak residence, with gret convocatioun [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 407/9.
Sat 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 60/1.
Sa is it [sc. Parliament] the iniustest iudgement seat that maye be being abused to mennis particulairis a1599 Rollock Wks. I 335 (see transf. below). 1633 Acts V 46/2.
In all the supreme courts and justice seatts alsweill civill as criminall 1655 Stitchill Baron Ct. 4.
The set and barroun court holden at Stitchell Kirketransf. a1599 Rollock Wks. I 335.
We mon see that judgment sait als weill as the mercie sait 1698 Glasgow Procurators 105.
Item to John Mitchell for the sett keeping … 14 s. 6 d.

b. The Court of Session, the supreme Civil Court of Scotland; esp. in Lords of the Seat (see Lord n. 14 (4) for further examples).Freq. sete of sessioun, also sete of justice (see College of Justice College n. 3). 1501 Acta Conc. III 18.
He chargit the lordis of the sessione now present that thai part nocht nor removit fra the seyt quhill Setterday that next cumit c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 200/41.
Sum sanis the sait, and sum thame cursis Sic tydingis hard I at the sessioun 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 59.
To compere before the lordis of the sait 1533 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 404.
Becaus the kingis grace had chosin the said lord to be ane of his said seit 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 5.
Becaus of the fere of the pest that is laytlie risyn in the toun of Edinburcht, the seite of Sessioun may nocht surelie remaine thairin 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 254.
And otherris lordis of Sait to convene in Edinburght … to begyn the cessioun 1567 Acts III 43/2.
Sua tua saittis may be maid for the furtherance of justice 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 132.
Schir James Balfour of Pettindreich knycht president of the seat and college of justice a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 431/76.
O lewand lord support this ciwell seit a1578 Pitsc. I 307/7.
He was chancelar … and satt on the saitt to wse iustice a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 66/41.
Gif this sait of senatouris gang doun 1627 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 88.
And thocht he be accomptit ane young man, ȝit I dar ventur him vpon any of tham that ar aymit to the place, and I know the best of that sait enterit in his age

c. A kirk-session.In St. Andrews, Crail and, latterly, Elgin. 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 72.
And all that sueris ane aith in the sait, unrequerit and admittit to sueir, sall pay ij d. ilk falt to the puir 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 136.
That ane gret part of thame that ar upone the sayt war his inimeis 1565 Crail Kirk S. 18 Dec.
In respect … of the dalie ordour & consitud of this sait 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 303.
Seat 1569 St. A. Kirk S. 315.
The superintendent, wytht avis of the seat and ministerie 1595 St. A. Kirk S. 805.
And quhen ony member of the sessioun sall understand ony thing worthie to be reportit to the saitt, that thai sall … declair the samyn to the ministeris 1625 Elgin Rec. II 191.
To be taxit for ther absence as the seat thinkis meit

3. A sitting of a court or similar body; a session or diet of a court. 1474 Acts II 107/2.
The arestment [is to] be maide of befor the tyme of the begynnyng of the ayr and sait [Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter, seate] of the justice 1478 Acta Conc. I 19/1.
This day the lordis of counsale raisit & dissoluit thair sete 1490–1 Acta Conc. I 183/2.
Be virtu of the summondis maid in the said mater of before at the last set sauffand to him his accioune anent the summondis that he has now rasit to this set 1495 Acta Conc. I 423/2.
That … the lordis may vnderstand quhat actionis thai haf to determe apoun ilke set 1496 Acta Conc. II 28.
In the burgh of Perth at the ceyt forsaid last haldin in the sade burgh 1498 Acta Conc. II 291.
Petir Makhurk our soverane lordis rebell … has cummyn within the seyt of the justice are of Lawder 1516–17 Treas. Acc. V 113.
To David Lowry for vj dais expensis riddand for arrestmentis makyng within the sett of the air of Perth 1522–3 Dundee B. Ct. I fol. 134 (23 March).
The balȝeis contynewis the sentence … till Friday next to cum to the seit of the preuost & balȝeis 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 511/2.
In the tyme of the seit of our parliament 1526 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI 113.
[Because the case] is gret and wichty and requiris ane gret sete of our lordis 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 151.
James Bradfut allegis that he is in possessioun of the troun and xv day bygane the day of the set, viz., the first court of Vytsonday 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 14.
To be callit upoun recent spulȝe without diettable contentioun of summondis or sete of sessioun

II. A place or thing on which to sit.

4. The place on which a person is sitting, or is accustomed to sit; a place to seat one person at a table. c1475 Wall. x 531.
Quhar that King Eduuard … To souper set; as Bruce at the palȝoun So entryt in, and saw wacand his seit 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 98.
Wald thou … mak amendis, I sal remyt this falt, Bot other ways that sete salbe full salt 1535 Stewart 59521.
Ane counsall he gart call, And everie man into his sait was set 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7152.
In the knichts hall belive scho gat hir sait [: gait] 1567 G. Ball. 102.
Full slyddrie is the sait that thay on sit a1568 Bann. MS I p. 51/4.
To sit with mokkaris in thair scornefull saitis a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 53/138.
I am ay servit at the latter meit And sum vther is placeit in my seit 1622-6 Bisset I 164/22.
Procuratouris suld keip thair saittis [quhill thai be called]

5. Something designed for sitting on; a chair, etc. Also a bench, pew, or, once, a thwart. Also transf.See also repentence sete, sete of repentance, Repentance n. c and d; Dry seat n. and dry saitte, Dry adj. 5; sait langsadill, langsadill seyt, Langsadil(l n.¹ (a) and b.(a) 1533 Bell. Livy I 119/21.
To mak public setis [B. saittis] and scaffaldis in commoun placis quhare playis war devisit(b) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 578.
[The king] Vnto his fuill gart mak ane semely seit 1542 Eeles Kings Coll. Chapel 25.
Ane lang seitt and ane furme of aik 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II 74.
xvj vinschot to the seittis 1561–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I 437.
Sceit 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 17/16.
Quhasoeuer hathe collected thame selfis ane seit nocht in the kirk of God, we affirme it to be the cheir of pestilence(c) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Dyovr, Dyvour.
In Latine cedere bonis … is … vsed amangst merchandes to make … bankrupt, … because the doer thereof … breakis his bank, stall or seate, quhair he vsed his trafficque of before 1602 Elgin Rec. II 107.
The heich forseattis in the loft to be reservit to the elderis and deacones 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 40.
The haill seattis for wemen afoir the daskis salbe takin avay 1637 S. Leith Rec. 27.
To sit in the leach fore seat appertaining to the said taillȝeour craft 1653 Lesmahagow Ann. 128.
That he fought with the said Nicol in the seat of the common laft 1678 Cramond Kirk S. II 1 Sept.
Mr. James Hunter … hath clandestinlie putt in ane seatt and … would acclaime the same as his propriety 1680 Kingarth Par. Rec. 124.
That ther be left for an elder and reader seat two foot and eight inch … round about the pulpit 1688 Cramond Kirk S. II 6 May.
If Murhouse would advance his seatt to the pulpit, then he would builde his seatt behind Murhouse's seatt, towards the northwest doore either a laich seatt or loft 1691 Cramond Kirk S. III 13 Oct.
To builde low short, moveable seatts in the middle of the church 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III 11 April.
The heretors & elders cannot hinder Cramond to change his seatt from daskes to a piew 1693 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 100.
For strowing and flowers to the High Kirk counsell seatt and counsell table(d) 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 468.
To be … twa cuschionis to the kingis … sait in the chapell of Halyrudhous 1553–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I 109.
For maiking of ane halland saitt, burds [etc.] 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II 100.
Saitt 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II 100.
For the furnesing of foure durris to the saittis with roissis nalis and swelkis 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III 67.
James Barroun … to mak saittis, fwrmes and stullis … for the peple to syt vpoun the tyme of the sermoun and prayarris 1563 Montgomery Mem. 197.
In the hall … with sait in the windo 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 165.
[The bailies and council] fyndes the said stoppis with the saitt besyde to narow the hie passages in the said wynd 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V 21.
To mak ane severall saitt for the adultereris 1621 Maxwell Mem. I 329.
At ȝour going to sie the stage play, ȝour self … and my self, to latt ws in, and for our saitis to sitt in … iiij s.(e) 1513 Doug. i iv 22.
And satis of stane neuer hewyn with manis hand Bot wrocht by natur 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 259.
Ane convenient entrie … to Auchanes to entir to his sate 1652 Glasgow B. Rec. II 240.
To speik the beddell … for keeping that sate in the said kirk … for the vse of the said laird(f) 1548 Aberd. B. Rec. I 259.
iij^xx pece of sawin tymmer, for sattis, price vj lib. 1560 Cart. S. Giles cx.
The traves close rowme or sait biggit … at Sanct Annys alter … aucht and sould be removit and the … brether of the tailyeoir craft permyttit to big thair sattis thair(g) 1513 Doug. v xiv 20.
Or in thar hard settis [L. sedilia] lenand on ayris 1532 Acts Sederunt i 3.
That settis be honestlie maid and couerit with grene claith, flokkit on the kingis expensis, quhar the lordis sall sit … and that thair be maid sett aboun sett 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 99.
For tua dosane of clekis for hinging of the said trevis and sette 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I 268.
For cleyngeing away mow behind the setts in the ovir Tolbuith, vj d. 1563–4 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 138.
viii comptersettis 1657 Balfour Ann. III 165.
They arrived in order … to ther setts in the parliament houssetransf. a1500 Rois Garlandis 396.
And blissit be thi haly theis that wer a sait to the blist barne Jesus & a trone to the sone of God

b. That part of a chair, etc. on which the sitter's body rests; the covering or padding of this component. c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 157.
Of knot werk for settis fyue tapetis 1581 Treas. Acc. MS 81b.
His hienes twa Frenche sadillis … blak welwet to be the saittis & bordouris theirof 1586 Treas. Acc. MS 85.
Fyne blak weluet tobe the sait and bordour the covering [of a saddle] 1603 Montgomery Mem. II 250.
For hallf ane wunc of sillk, and for the making of the set of the sedell, vi s. 1603 Montgomery Mem. II 250.
Ane yaird and a half of uelluet to be ane set to my futclloth, xxxiii s. 1622-6 Bisset II 166/30.
He … slew … Nathalocus … at his ease sittand on the previe beand ane vake sait and kaist him thairin

6. The chair or throne reserved for a personage of authority or dignity; hence fig. the authority or dignity symbolised by sitting in a particular chair or throne. c1420 Wynt. vi 2259.
Fyrst till hys sete [C. set] fra the awtare [That he [sc. Macduff] sulde be the kyngis] ledare, And in that set thare set hym downe Till tak his coronatyowne c1450-2 Howlat 723 (A).
Ferme our seid to the set quhar thi son is a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 331.
Than Cynthia … Out of hir sait discendit doun belyue a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 94 (Asl.).
A juge he maid sic pvnising … His skyn … gart ryf fra the body And on the sete quhar he gaf sensyment Gart stent it furth 1490 Irland Mir. II 50/8.
Jhesus … had that he stage and sete in hevin eternaly prouidit for him c1515 Asl. MS I 260/4.
Bot Lulach … was iiij ȝeris intrusit in the kingis set c1515 Asl. MS 246/20.
Fergus Ferherd … brocht with him the kingis sete or chiar of merbill out of Irland 1513 Doug. x i 6.
Within hys sterrit hevyn and mylky set [L. sedem] 1513 Doug. xi vii 90. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 240.
Quhov thow suld gyde thy seait imperiall 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 352.
Quho sittith moist hie sal fynd the sait most slidder 1560 Conf. Faith in Acts II 527/2.
Saitt a1568 Bann. MS 28b/27.
Quhat meiknes wes thy mynd withtin Out of thi he supernall sete Law to discend a1568 Brown in Bann. MS 51b/75.
Fra that the iuge in sait be sett 1570 Sat. P. xix 101.
That kingdome sall come to greit ruyne Quhen that deuissioun hes his sait and tryne a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 444/100.
Seik to the sett that is certane For eirthelie joy can nocht remane c1590 Fowler II 26/8.
The Lord … befoir quhais iustice sait I most compeir a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 69.
The Cardinal after his promotion … he was not well warmed in his seat, when to make his greatness seen, he [etc.] 1649 Acts Sederunt ii 58.
The ordinar lord … before he come down from his seat, to tak the minut-buik [etc.]

b. An ecclesiastical seat, esp. a bishop's see. a1400 Leg. S. xxi 584.
Thane al the folk of that cite of Petyreis come ful glad can be, … in byschapis set hym sat a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 788.
& that [church] men callyt ȝet, Of Sancte Machore the seg ore set 1492 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 330.
Quhar the set of Abberdene is infeft of auld 1498 Reg. Privy S. in Orig. Par. II i 292.
For the erection of the abbacy of Colmkill in the bischoppis sete of the Ilis 1526 Oliphants 57.
At the satte of Sanct Andrews the penult day of Marche 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxix.
Glasqu, the archebischoppis seit 1533 Boece 77.
In this Ile of Mone as in place solempnit haly and prymare sete of kirkmen that venerable estate suld remane 1535 Stewart 17982.
He wes the first bischop, I wnderstand, That had ane sett or kirk in[till] Scotland 1549–50 (1553) Reg. Great S. 171/2.
Landis … pertening in patrimony to ws, oure said seitt and bischoprie in propertie 1562 Soc. Ant. II 107.
The said castle … to remain with his lordship's kirk and sait of Dunkeld 1562-3 Winȝet I 106/17.
Bot also of bischopis saitis and paroche kirkis 1571 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 209.
To euery metropolitan or cathedrall seatt 1571 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 218.
The sett now vacand be the naturall death of the last bischop thairof 1571 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 334.
Ane of the commoun kirkis of the seit of Brechin 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 474.
His hienes licence … wes direct to the cheptoure of the seitt of Glasgow 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 662.
Fortrose … being … formerly a kirk toune or the bishop and chanons seatt(b) 1622-6 Bisset II 321/27.
Sanct Peter … had and began his saet at Antiochia befoir his cuming to Rome

c. The seat of the Bishop of Rome, the papal see. c1420 Wynt. vi 1152.
Bot this pape the nynd Benet Till Benet the auchtand, that that set Held before, wes newow nere 1531 Bell. Boece II 319.
For thir … reasonis he desirit … the Paip, to thirl nocht the realme of Scotland … considering it nevir offendit to his sait 1531 Bell. Boece II 449.
To Avinion, quhare the Paip held his seit for the time 1532 Acts II 335/2.
He [sc. the king] sall keip, obserue, manteine and defend the auctorite, liberte & fredome of the sete of Rome a1538 Abell 9*a.
Prelaitis wykkit Cryst tholit in Sant Petiris sait 1551 Hamilton Cat. 3.
Metrapolitan … of the hail Kirk of Scotland and of the seit Apostolyck Legatnait c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5228.
Quhilk sall sitt in the holy sait 1563-72 Ferg. Tracts 14.
Bishopes, … archebishopes, and last patriarckes (for be theis degries they ascended to the Beastes saite 1562-3 Winȝet II 25/19.
Pape Steuin … Prælat of the Apostolik Sait 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) 400.
Our prelates … willing to schaw thair gude seruice to the halie sait, apprehendit … Paull Craw 1622-6 Bisset I 89/35.
James King of Scottis … glorius in the eis of the apostolict seat

7. The sitting part of the body; the buttocks. 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 54.
[To] vasch him with vinegir … vpon the place quhair he swat, and gif the sveit vent dounvart to his seit he vald mend, vthervys no

8. ? A place where an animal settles or lies hid; a form, lair, cover, den.Cf. mod. Eng. seat ‘the ‘form’ of a hare' (sense 10 in OED). 1587-99 Hume 26/23.
Euerie bais'd nocturnall beast, … from the sight of men. To saits, and couars fast they flee

9. An abode of a deity or deities; a temple. b. A sign house of the Zodiac. 1513 Doug. iii vi 188.
The pepil … wareis the set [L. sedemque] of Sybil al thar days 1533 Bell. Livy I 50/7.
He commandit als that ane sate [L. sedemque] suld be dedicate to the goddes faith on the richt side of this wodb. 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 2.
Quhen in the Crab Appollo held hys sete

10. A place in which a throne, a court or an administrative centre is established. Passing into: A (seat of) government; a capital. 1513 Doug. iii iii 24.
Tharfor to goddis grete Begyn to graith gret wallis and ryal sete 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 73.
He gaif thame the Ile of Man … fornentis Brigance that thai mycht haif thair principaill sete in the samyn 1533 Boece 159b.
The confederate kingis sitting collaterale in ane sete a1538 Abell 34a.
Athanasius be litteris of Constance he passit agane to Alexandir his sait c1552 Lynd. Mon. 877.
That he wald sett his sait In to the north c1590 Fowler II 77/2.
If that he had not … placed his seate amangs theme [sc. his subjects], it had bene a thing imposseble for him so lang to haue preserved it 1609 Peebles B. Rec. I 76.
I dout not as ye haif bein ernest to haif yowr town the seat of that judicatorie 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 201.
I acknowledge my said soverane onlie supreame governour of this kingdome … and that no foreyne prince, pouer, seate, or persone ather civile or ecclesiastique hes ony jurisdictioun … over the same 1617 Lett. to Jas. VI lxvi.
Your ordinair royall saitte at Londoun 1641 Sc. Hist. Rev. IX 364.
By loosing the bands of the Kirk and the State Conforming to Rome their imperiall seate c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 586.
Mayboll the head town of Carrict, the seat of the Justice

III. Residence, abode, situation.

11. The thing or person in which a particular power, faculty, function or quality is located. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 566 (Asl.).
Quhar is now … Salamon cheif sete of sapiens 1490 Irland Mir. II 40/19.
The blud is the seit of the saule 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 156/828.
In how parts of our stomack, doth She take her lodging seat [: great]

b. A place where something takes place, or where some particular condition of things prevails. a1568 Scott xxxv 4.
Alwayis to fle iniquite And sait of syn and schame

12. A place of habitation or settlement.Forestaris sait, appar. = forestar-stede, Forestar(e n. 1 b.(1) 1513 Doug. iii ii 108.
The lugyngis [were] voyd and reddy to thar fays, The sete [L. sedes] left waist til ony it vptais 1513 Doug. vi x 107.
Thir bene our settis, and beddis of fresch flowris In soft bene medowis … Our habitatioun is and residens 1533 Boece 39b.
The Hunnys quhilkis being expellit Flandris come to seik new setis in Britane 1533 Boece 144b.
Scottis iosing the samyn setis gaif that regioun Striuelingschir to name 1533 Boece 246b.
Pannonye the ilk tyme was maid the sete and habitacion of Hunnys 1535 Stewart 26633.
And Saxonis sone in thair saittis set doun; Inhabitand baith castell, tour and toun 1596 Dalr. I 254/21.
Madulphie skuilmaister … cumis to Malmisburie a toune in Ingland, and thair he fixis his sait 16… Crim. Trials III 586.
Iff this companie … be nocht sent bak to thair wounted seattis and stallis(2) 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 294.
The keping of the wode sall be thair batheis and the forsaid Alexander sall hafe euirmare the sete of a forestar frely in Badarach; the whilk forestar sall frely haff of land to the sawing of sex ferlotis of bere 1544 Reg. Privy S. III 103/1.
Lie Forestaris-seit, et suis pertinentiis, iacentibus in baronia de Fintray 1576–7 Reg. Privy S. VII 130/2.
[With the office of] forestarie [of Binwode and] the new forestaris sait of the samin, quhilk is ane aiker of land

b. A dwelling house and its pertinents; a country seat. Cf. Onset(t n.² 1519 Reg. Episc. Morav. 391.
That the new biggit seyt … be distrowit and ly waist … and at he haf na richt to manur nor appropir the samyn be na way of propirte 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Messvagivm.
Quhilke in … England is called Manour … Albeit Valentine Leigh in his buik … affirmis messuagium to be the tenement … And the dwelling house or place, or Courtehal thereof, to be called Sit, from the Latine Situs: quhilk wee call the seate, or on-sette 1646 J. Hope Diary (1958) 186.
A most sueett seatt [at Wimbledon] and gardens c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 599.
Nixt Badenoch it runneth throw Glen Pottaig, it hath but certain symmer seats in it

c. A berth. 14.. Acts I 307/2.
He sal gyf for his set in the havyn xij d.

13. Position, location, site. 1513 Doug. iii ii 80.
Quharfra thar com … Teucrus the wycht, … And for his cite chesit the set [L. locum] fast by 1513 Doug. iii iv 49.
Evir as thai fle about fra sete to sete With thar vyle mowthis infek thai al our mete 1513 Doug. vii xi 41.
Ane hundreth eddris and other snakis in sete 1627 Edinb. B. Rec. VII 28.
For performing of his pairt and dewtye … anent the stance and saitt of the said hospitall

IV. Basis, foundation, support.

14. The part of a thing upon which it rests; the base; also, appar., foundations, in various contexts.In the quots. 1559-60, ?, more specif., paving-stones; this is not, however, otherwise recorded before the 19th c. in Eng. 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 522.
We … causit hyd the said chenȝe with vther gold within the yard of our said duelling place vnder the seittis of the samin; as ane place lyk as it was of veritie mair sure and mair secreit … nor ony vther pairt of our said duelling place 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 523.
On nawayis exprimand how lang of befoir the invasioun … The said reverand fader causit hyd the chenȝe in the saittis of his yaird; for gif it was than recentlie done … it wald manifest the selff to deligent seircheouris 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II 128.
For thre braid corbellis for braidnes of the settis of the south pillar 1617 Soc. Ant. IV 103.
The Croce of Edinburgh wes this day put upon the new seat 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 8 March.
Considering the grit necessitie for building of ane sett of the peir this yeir 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 5 Jan.
As also that thair shall be ane sett [pr. spett] build to the harbor this ȝeir

V. 15. To take one's seat, to sit in one's allotted place; to assume one's official position. 1513 Doug. v vi 10.
And evyn amydwart in hys troyn grete For hym arayt, takyn hes hys sete a1568 Bann. MS 264b/54.
Thane byd and tak ȝour sait abowt

VI. comb.

16. a. Sete-bed, ? a bed which served as a seat during the day; ? the same as a Langsadill-bed. b. Sete-burd, a table at which one sits. c. Sete-dask, a desk or pew (incorporating a seat) in a church. d. Sete-hous, = sit-house, Sit v. e. Sete-rent, the amount paid for a sitting in a church.a. 1542 Eeles King's Coll. Chapel 26.
Ane lang seitt bed off aik 1580 Aberd. B. Rec. II 35.
Ane lang sett bed of fyr, pryce thairof iii lib.b. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1155.
He gart at ane sete burd the strangearis begin, The maist seymly in sale ordanit thame sete a1500 K. Hart 422.
Bewtie and Loue ane sait burde hes begoin 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 455.
v^c seym and ruf for hir set burdis 1529 Reg. Great S. 178/1.
A comptar burd price 2 markis, a set burd with formis and trestis price 13 s. 4 d. 1546 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XXI 84b.
Thre seit burdis with thair bynkis 1546–7 Reg. Great S. 20 n.
Ane seit burd with the furmis therof, 30 s. 1564–5 Perth B. Ct. 278 (23 March).
Ane forme ane stule ane sait burd with trestis ane lynnyng burdeclayth 1587 Murray Early B. Organ. II 189.
[A high] sait buird [or table with a loose form, other three long] sait buirdis [with forms fixed on their sides]c. 1569 Boyd Fam. P. 8 Nov.
The said Johnne … numerit and tald doun upoun ane burd abone ane sete dask within the said kirk … the soume of four hundreth merkis 1652 Fraser P. 243.
Our seatt dask and loft within the parochine kirked. 1572 Prot. Bk. T. Lindsay 46b.
Ane hous and kailȝard lyand … foirnent the said Jonet Purdies seithous 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII 202.
He leuis & ordinis to his spous … the haill inspreth of the sait hous with the hous it self during hir liftyme 1594 Brechin Test. I 118.
Her insycht fyre weschell and tymer being in the seat hous & chamber [of the meikle mylne] 1606 Dundonald Par. Rec. 105.
Speciall tymes and placeis of his medling with hir in his fatheris sait housese. 1658 Orkney Rentals App. 58.
We have had no supplie … for upholding the fabrick of our kirk; and so having nether sett-rent nor rent … it must ruine 1679 Edinb. B. Rec. X 386.
Ther is great deficiency of the seat rents [of the kirk]

VII. 17. a. As the second element in place-names. 1165–90 Holyrood Chart. in Orig. Par. I 190.
Kingesseteburne 1165–1214 Liber Melros in Orig. Par. I 299.
Keluesete c1180 Liber Calchou 294.
In uilla mea de Pranwrsete c1180 Liber Calchou 295.
De territoris de Pronewessete c1200 Liber Calchou 100.
Unam acram in Wytefeld et in Kingessete c1220 Liber Calchou 290.
Ab Edredesete 12… Reg. St. A. 379.
De Windiduris usque ad Kingissete 1540 5th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 609/1.
And fra that descendand carne be carne to the Halymanis Seit 1600 Retours I Inq. Spec. Aberdeen (72).
Pettindreich seat

b. ‘A name for a high, gen. saddle-shaped and conspicuous hill esp. in place-names, as Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, King's Seat in the Sidlaws' (SND, s.v. Seat n. 9). a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 336.
On Arthuris Sete or on ane hyar hyll a1568 Bann. MS 249b/23.
Quhen … Arthour Sait is brocht to Sailis berry a1578 Pitsc. II 176/11.
Wpoun the locht of Airthour Saitt

c. Appar. = Outset n.¹, q.v. for the derivation. 1549–50 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 445.
Cum … pendiculis vocatis ly Seittis de Wodend Dulsak 1630 Retours I Inq. Spec. Aberdeen (217).
Terris de Overhill cum saitt vocato Thornerone 1640 Retours I Inq. Spec. Elgin et Forres (73).
The Maynis of Pittindreiche cum pendiculis, et specialiter tua seattis callit the Broomhillis