Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†SELLAR, n. Also cellar, seller, saller, salur. In an old Orkney house, the apartment leading off the living-room and used as a bedroom. Now obs. [′sɛlər]Ork. 1885 Peace's Almanac 124:
Between this and the barn was a small room, anciently called the “hellar”; it then got the name of the “cellar”, and was more recently named the “chamber”.Ork. 1911 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 16:
Leaving the stable by the inner door we pass through the ben end and by the “salur” door (the ben apartment was often called the seller, more properly salur, the old Norse word salur meaning a hall) into the but.Ork. 1922 P. Ork. A.S. I. 16:
The very name, salr, a saloon or hall, the analogy of the great room in Icelandic houses, the ale-hurry with its clear hint of festivity, and the size of these early sellars, show that they were built originally as banqueting halls, though very likely used also as sleeping apartments at night.Cai. 1938 J. E. Donaldson Cai. in 18th c. 29:
The “cellar” which served as sleeping quarters, had no fire-place. Its chief article of furniture was a large box-bed with folding doors.Sh. 1951 Sh. Folk Book II. 82:
The doors leading from the outside into the fire-end and from the fire-end into the saller.
