Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Scaff, Skaf(f, n. Also: scaffe, skaffe; skaif. [Late ME scaphe (a1450), OF scaphe, scaufe, escaf(f)e (all in Godefroy), L. scapha.] A light boat; a skiff.(a) 1374 Coldingham Priory lxxvii.
Ad portum de Coldyngham … j scaffe a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 274.
In a skaf a-pone the se Sayland [etc.] 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 373.
Skaff 1533 Boece 445b.
In botis and skaffis all his armye eselie tuke land 1535 Stewart 51975.
And tuke the se thair in ane litill skaffe 1539 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For hardis to the skaf … for treis to the skaff cutting … burdis irne work talloun & haddir to the skaff & for making of the samin 1576 Orkney Oppress. 66.
Quhen thai dar not travell to far seis in fisching, for storms of weder upon thair small scaffis 1600 Conv. Burghs II 81.
Ane gift of licence … to inhibite … skaffis, skeldrykeis and ȝowis to transporte ony passingeris … in sic weschellis [etc.] Ib. 82.(b) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 453.
To … marynallis in the Inglis skaif for wittaling and cariag to the greit schip 1512–13 Ib. 472.
For ane litill boit to the greit schip, callit ane skaif, for erandis 1568 Edinb. Test. I 107.
Ane dra bait and ane skaif price of thame bayth fyfty li.