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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.

Savar, Safare, Salver, n. Also: save(a)r, -or, saf-, sa(i)ffer. [ME and e.m.E. sauuer, savere (both Cursor M.), savour (c1330), saver (c1410); Sav(e v. Cf. Salvio(u)r n.]

1. One who delivers, protects, preserves, keeps safe, in senses of Sav(e v. a. Applied to God, etc. as a saviour of souls. a1400 Leg. S. iv 171.
Safare of sawlis, ta me sone Ib. xl 699.
& lofing til his savor ȝeld c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4532.
Christ Jesus, saiffer of men Arundel MS 281/86.
O Mary, … gentilest saiffer of synnaris Ib. 282/121.
That thou [sc. the Virgin] be to me helper and saver in my letter dayis … be help and supple off … oure saluioure Jesu Christ 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 129.
Throwgh Jesus Crist our Lord and onlie saluer c1590 J. Stewart 257 §228.
Thou quho namd is Paracletus … Be my instructor, saiffer, and conwoy

b. In other applications. 1573 Cal. Sc. P. IV 621.
[The persons to whom the jewels were] laide in wed [ … ] savaris [of the said jewels] 1596 Melvill 382.
And yit … they ar … the savears of his honour and privileages of his croun, and we the empearers thairof

c. One who recovers and restores lost property. Cf. Safer n. 1618 Crim. Trials III 441.
The pannell declairit that he nawayis staw the purse … bot … fand the purse vpone the flure of the chalmer; quhilk he retenit, and spendit of the money that was thairin ten merkis allanerlie, in recompance to the saiffer, and restoirit the said purse

2. ? A protective covering of some sort.For ladies hoods and muffs, and for spectacles: ? a protective bag, case, or the like for keeping them in. Also ? for the hub of a wheel.(1) 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 167.
For ane elne of quhite sating … xl s. and ij elnis of blak sating price of the elne xxxiiij s. to be thair saferis to thair hudis and thair mufellis 1694 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 257.
For safer of a mufe 2lb. 18.(2) 1689 Foulis Acc. Bk. 106.
To the boy in Rosses for safer of my spectacles and silver caise(3) 1699 Foulis Acc. Bk. 259.
For saffer of the ring of the nave of on of the cart wheills