Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SAUF, adj., v. Also sauff, saufe, saf(f); safe, seff. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. safe, save, now obs. or arch. See also Save. [sǫf; sef]
A. Forms:Sc. a.1714 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 486:
The man cryed, “My sanctuary safes me”.Sc. 1776 Clerk Saunders in Child Ballads No. 69. B. iv.:
Then you may swear, and safe your aith, You sawna Sandy sin yestreen.s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms cxix. 146:
Saufe me, an' I wull keepe thy testimonies.Bnff. 1931 Banffshire Jnl. (21 April) 5:
The ruck-tow hauds it sauf an ' soon '.Sc. 1991 William Wolfe in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 65:
Naither tree nor creepie-crawlie cratur
Nor burd is sauf on the hill's shouther nou. Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 9:
the ba in his airms
snod an sauf
lyk a puir unhovin bairn
B. Used in exclam. phrs. of surprise, apprehension, protest: (Gude, Lord) sauf us (a'), safe me (Cld. 1882 Jam.; Ork., Bnff., Ags. 1969).Dmf. 1805 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 700:
L—d safe us, Tam, what's a the fyke?Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 98:
But, saff us, Deel, thou's turnin auld.Slk. 1822 Hogg Siege Rxb. (1874) 622:
Gude sauff us! What has been said to gie ony offence?Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 29:
Saffs! what mishanter's happen'd now.Ayr. 1835 Galt in Tait's Mag. (Aug.) 540:
Seff us, man, its no possible you could be so ignorant o' constitutional law.Fif. 1881 Recent Sc. Poets (Murdoch) 240:
The ploughman in a press did hide; sauf's! hoo his heart was quailin'.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 14:
But, safe me! I maun haud my tongue.
