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.
Quotation dates: 1713-1714, 1776-1931, 1991-1996
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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.
