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.
SIEGE, n., v. Also see(d)ge, seeje. Sc. usages:
I. n. 1. The wooden or stone bench or form on which a mason dresses his stones (Sc. 1946 Spons' Pract. Builders' Pocket Bk. 442) or the board on which a slater trims his slates (Fif. 1970).Sc. 1755 Scots Mag. (March) 135:
How high should a mason's siege be? Two steeples, a back, and a cover, knee-high all together. . . . The cowan's siege is built up of whin stones, that it may soon tumble down again.Sc. 1754 H. Miller Schools 316:
To roll up a large stone to the sort of block-bench, or siege, as it is technically termed, on which the mass had to be hewn.m.Lth. 1878 R. Cuddie Corstorphine Lyrics 10:
The words o' the classical mason, While smoking his cutty he rests on his siege.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. xi.:
The maister helpit me to put my first block on to the seedges.
2. A dressing-down, a sharp rebuke or chastisement (Abd. 1970). Cf. II. 2.Abd. 1904 E.D.D.:
I'll gie ye a siege, ye little rascal.
3. Rate, speed, vehemence.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 152:
The horse cam in at full seedge.
II. v. 1. To pester or bother, esp. with questions or requests (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 19:
Thae bairns heh seeged mei aa day wui thir speereen.
2. tr. or intr. with at. To administer a sharp reproof, to scold severely, berate, storm (Bnff., Abd. 1970). Vbl.n. siegin.Abd. 1904 E.D.D.:
I never got sic a siegin' an jeedgin' frae livin' mortal.ne.Sc. 1914 G. Greig Folk-Song cxlii.:
He's sieged at his men till his maister's gien him's leave, For he canna get them up in the mornin'.
