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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.

Schiref-deput(e, S(c)heref(f)-, Schirra-deput(e, n. Also: s(c)hireff-, -efe-, -iffe-, schyref(f)-, s(c)hirraff-, -eff-, -iff; s(c)heriff-, sheriw-, sherref-, seref-; shref(f)e-; shyrra-, schirray-, sherra- and -deputt, -depat. Also pl. schireffis deput(e, shereffis deputis, schirefis deputtis. [S(c)hiref n. and Depute ppl. adj. 2.] An official appointed by a sheriff to act as his deputy.See further Fife Sheriff Ct. pp. liv-lix.sing. 1424 Acts Jas. I (Edinb. Univ. MS Borland No. 207) 84b.
That with the clerkis thair be ordanit lawyde men be the schirraff depute 1447 (1449–50) Reg. Great S. 71/1.
Be it kend … me … schyreff of Berwic for til hef made … Schyr Alexander of Hume … my scheriff-depute of … my said schyrefdome … gevand … to [him] … powar schyref-courtis … to set proclame and halde, al maner of brevis and borowis to execute, trespassouris to punys, eschetis and amerciamentis to rase and inbring [etc.] … and al uthir and sindry thingis to do and til use that to thyr office of schyreff-depute be law use or custum is knawen to pertene 1450 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 152.
Agane the bidding … of our deire bruthir and shref depute on the kingis behalf 1479 Highland P. II 184.
Schireff deputt of the schirefdome of Argaill till a rych nobill … lorde 1484 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 445.
Allexander Irvyn of the Drum shireff deput of Abirdein to Thomas Byssat mair of fe and his deputis gretyn 1495 Treas. Acc. I 216.
James Logane, schirefedeput of the Middill Ward of Edinburgh c1515 Asl. MS I 217/3.
Schir Robert Sempill … schiref deput to the Lord Erskyn 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 216.
The said schiref deput hes assignet thaim viij dais eftir myssomer day … to … fynd thar souerteis 1532–3 Bk. Dunvegan I 69. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1538.
Schyref [ed. Tchyref] depute he wes in Fyfe, To euerie man ane equall judge 1561 Reg. Privy S. V i 239.
James Dempstare … schiref depute of the schirefdome of Banffe hes tane greit laubouris … in inbringing of the extreitis unlawis and amerchiamentis of the justice air of Banff 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 6.
Mr. Harie Aitkin, schiref deput of the bischoprik of Orknay c1650 Spalding I 231.
Mr. Williame Dauidsone constant schiref deput thairof dureing his liftyme 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 48.
The shiriffe depute of Roxbrugh 1690 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 138.
Subscribed by the shirriff deput of Fyff 16.. Law MS (Breadalbane Coll., Reg. H.) in Fife Sheriff Ct. lv.
His majestie may appoynt deputs in anie shyre albeit the shirreff have pouer to nominat and creat deputs. … And hardlie can his majestie creat deputs quher ther is ane heretabill shirreff yet … he did it in apoynting Sir James Keith shirreff deput of Angus(b) 1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 244.
Scheref depute of Aberdene 1521 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 204.
Be the authoritie of the provest and baillies and of Edward Kincaid seref deputt of the said serefdome 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 63.
Being for the tyme executing the office of sherefdepute of the sherifdome of Lanerk 1592 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 19 Dec.
Sheref depat 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xix 15 (1699) 105.
The sheriff-depute, or other deputs, may sit in cases belonging to the sheriff himself 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 18 Sept.
Sherref deput(c) 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 25.
The said Malcolme Rosse did offer to shoot and kill the said shreff deputt 1686 Ib. XIII 40.
Fyned by the shreffe deput of Roxburgh(d) 1489 Treas. Acc. I 109.
To Mussche to pas and charge the schirra deput and bailȝeis of Hadington to warde for thare dyssobeying of the kingis letteris 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 98.
Schirray deput 1649 Lamont Diary 1.
Sherra-depute 1653 Ib. 54.
Shyrra deputepl. 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 268.
Robert maister of Keth knycht and Alexander of Ogilvy … sheriw deputis of Kincardin 1478 Acta Aud. 60/1.
Chosin be the schiref deputis of Forfar to inquire & knaw vppoun the landis & gudis pertening to Walter Ogilvy 1503 Acts II 249/2.
It is … ordanit for the acquietting of the pepill be justice that thair be in tyme tocum justicis and schireffis depute in thai partis 1505 Lennox Mun. 170.
Gewand … to my said schireff deputis of Renfrewe … my full power … to giff … sesing till … Lord Dernlie … and generalie all and sindri wther thingis to do … that to the office of schireffis deput or deputri pertenis 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 116.
The shereffis deputis of Edinburgh 1535 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 446.
Schereff deputis of Air 1551 Prot. Bk. R. Lumsdane 18b.
Quhilk deliuerance the schireff deputis accepit … for kenning of the said Alexander to his said twa merk land 1587 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis fol. 4b (4 May).
The schirefis deputtis of Banffe 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 25.
It is statu[it and] ordanit be the saidis schiref deputis