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.
Sterisman, Ster(e)man(e, n. Also: sterys-, steir(i)s-, steirris-, steirse-, steers-, stears-, stieres-, steir-, stirman, stuirmane. [ME and e.m.E. stieresmann (a1200), steoressmann (Orm), steorman (Layamon), steres-man (c1250), stersman (c1440), sterysman (c1450), stere-man (c1460), stirsman (1577), stearesman (1579), steer-man (1591), stear-man (1638), steersman (1650), late OE stéorman, stéoresman, Du. stuurman, MLG stûreman, ON stýrimaðr; Ster(e n.2 and Man n.] The helmsman or pilot of a ship. Also fig. b. With reference to the word. c. attrib. With fe (Fe n. 6) and hyre (Hyr(e n.).(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 623.
The maistere gert the steris-man To the left hand stere hym thane 1507 Reg. Privy S. I 211/1.
Schippis, ilk ane of the birth of ane hundreth tun or within, a maister, a sterisman and xvi marinaris or within 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 260.
To the tymmerman and sterisman of the said Duche skippar and his schip 1513 Doug. iii iv 114.
And followit furth the sammyn went we have, Quhar so the wynd and sterysman ws drave 1534 Treas. Acc. VI 233.
To ane sterisman fra the new werk to the lyne xij s. 1536 Reg. Privy S. II 303/1.
With maisteris, skipparis, sterismen and maryneris to sufficient nomer to fure the samyn 1586 St. A. Test. II 54.
To the said … James as sterisman thairof [sc. the ship] for fwrnesing of small necesseris … in hir voage … and keping of hir ticht vij lib. vj s.(b) 1557 Acts & Decr. XV 167.
Ane schip … of the towne callit Sprus, Hannis Bowlie … boitman … Peter Roberik steirisman … with the boyis and paygis thairof ?a1560 Music of Scotl. xxxvi 56.
Ther cam a ship … , Sanct Michael was the stieresman, Sanct John sat in the horn c1575 Balfour Pract. 617.
Quhair ane skipper, or awner, hyris ane steirsman, pilot, or boatswain, or ony uther hyreman for ane voyage 1590 Welwod 49.
Steirseman 1602 Colville Paraenese 8.
[Rudders] gouernit be the hand of the steirsman or pilot 1622-6 Bisset II 251/17.
That na maner of persone set him self furtht for sufficient steirisman [etc.] … except he be habill and qualyfeid therefoir 1622-6 Bisset II 250/22.
Steirrisman(c) 1466 Acts II 87/1.
That the master of the schip sal fynd sufficiand stermane tymmerman & schipmen conuenient for the schip c1475 Wall. ix 121.
Bathe schip maistir, and the ster man [1570 steirisman] also, In the holl, … he gert thaim go c1475 Wall. x 833.
Gray he maid thair sterman for to be 1509 Reg. Privy S. I 283/2.
Stereman(d) 1552 Dundee B. Ct. II 157b (2 June).
He hyrit Henryk … to saile in Ȝelland for steirman in thare schip c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4864.
Quho wald mak ane steirman tyll ane barge Off ane blynd borne, quhilk can no dainger se 1563 Edinb. B. Deeds 103.
Quhilk schip I obleis me to … put in ane sufficient steirman in hir … Andro Reidpeth … steirisman of the schip callit the Kok 1602 Conv. Burghs II 137.
That na man may tak away the shipis boitt fra the ship or ȝoill without licence of the skipper, steirman, or boitman(e) 1552 Dundee B. Ct. II 192b (19 Oct.).
Thare schip stuirmane(f) 1602 Conv. Burghs II 135.
That he [sc. the skipper] consult … with the schipis clerk, his stirman, and with sum of his principall marinerisfig. 1562-3 Winȝet I 3/11.
Gydit thir mony ȝeris be sleuthfull marinaris and sleipand sterismen (we mein of the pastores of the Kirk) 1598 Melvill Propine 144.
To be our lanterne steersman and our guide 1602 Colville Paraenese 8.
Except thai have the church to be steirman 1643 Fugitive Poetry II xx 13/12.
God, who was our stearsman and our starb. a1603 Tract. Leg. Naval. 63b.
Steirsman is in effect the maisters mate a Dutch word or rather in effect ane pilot in Dutchc. attrib. 1552 Perth Guildry 286 (15 July).
The expensis he hes maid apon the steir man fee 1553 Dundee B. Ct. II 261a (26 Oct.).
Williem Darling is adiugit to pay to Dauid Villiemson thre last & ane quarter of ane lastis fracht xj cronis for ilk last with stermanfe & prymgilt c1575 Balfour Pract. 618.
Quhair ony debait … happinis anent the paying of steirmen's fie of shippis [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 245/12.
Small loidmannis services called steirman fie 1622-6 Bisset II 252/33.
The steirismannis fie, that appertenis upoun the coist of Brytannie of schipis and merchandice passing —1600 Reg. Privy S. MS LXXI 142.
Quhatsumeuir maister … gettis onie steirman hyre for inbringing onie schip or crair furth of [etc.]
