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.
†SEY, n.2 Also seye. A kind of woollen cloth, resembling serge, “made by families for their own use” (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Also in Eng. as say till 18th c. [sɑe]Ayr. 1704 Mun. Irvine (1891) II. 125:
Importing of Irish Cloath, Seyes and Stockings from Ireland.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 84:
And ye's get a green sey apron, And waistcoat of the London brown.Abd. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XVI. 617:
Their cloth consists of stuffs, seys, sarges, mankies, duffles.Mry. 1824 J. Cock Hamespun Lays 26:
Baith sey an' serge, o' double blue.Abd. 1899 Bk. of Methlick (1939) 49:
A cloth called sey, generally dyed dark blue, was very commonly used for clothing.
