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.

Schafe, Schaife, Scheaf, n. Also: scheav-. [Only in Easter Ross, in the early 17th c. Perh. the same word as Schef(e n.², but see Soc. Ant. (1943–4) LXXVIII 74 for an argument that it is altered from sceth Scheth n.] A local land measure, appar. equal to about ⅐ of an oxgang. — 1603 Old Ross-shire I 171.
Payand yeirlie … for the saids vi schafis lands of Culkenzie 1615 Retours II Inq. Spec. Ross et Cromarty (39).
3 bovatis et 1 garbata terrarum vulgariter appelatis the thrie oxgang and schaifeland villæ et terrarum de Culkenzie in baronia de Delnie 1623 Ib. (66).
7 garbatis terrarum vulgo appellatis 7 scheavis of land … extendentibus ad 1 bovatam terræ vulgariter nuncupatam an oxgait of land unamque garbatam lie scheaf dictarum terrarum et villæ de Cowlichmoir infra baroniam de Line 1635 Ib. (83).
10½ garbatis villæ et davatæ terrarum … vulgo nuncupatis ten scheaffis and ane half scheaf of land infra baroniam de Delny noviter erectam 1635 Ib.
7 garbatis lie sevin scheaffis land … extendentibus ad 1⅙ bovatam terrarum de Culkenzie