Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
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.
SERVANT, n. Also sairvant (Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 9); servan (Ayr. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 51; Edb. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 17; Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb x.; ne.Sc. 1970).
Sc. form of Eng. servant.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 4:
Aboot the sairvant, I neither care nor ken
But Tartuffe his maister is a Man Among Men
Sc. usages in combs.: 1. servan chiel, a young male servant (n.Sc. 1880 Jam.; Abd. 1970). See Chield; 2. servan lass, a maidservant (Cld. 1880 Jam.). Gen.Sc. and n.Eng. dial.; †3. servant meal, a meal made from mixed grain and given to servants.1. Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 98:
Lots o' servan' chiels gyang awa' fleein' on Sundays, an' they're nae fit for their wark a' throu' the ook efter.2. Ayr. 1821 Galt Legatees vi.:
We are to have three servan lasses, besides Andrew's man.Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes lxxx.:
A smile frae the servan'-lass that opens the door.3. Inv. 1779 I. F. Grant Old Highl. Farm (1924) 261:
The first was bear meall brought from the milln the first Novr. foresaid for servant meal in which there was five firlots rye, six firlots small oats in whole.
