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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Saw, v.³ Also: sawe, sau, schaw. P.t. sew(e. P.p. sawin, -yn, sewin, sowne, shoin. [ME and e.m.E. sahe(n (a1225), sagh (Cursor M.), sau (a1325), saw(e (c1340). Cf. MLG, MDu. sagen, ON saga to saw; Saw n.³] 1. tr. a. To cut (up) (timber, a tree) with a saw; to manufacture (boards, etc.) by sawing. b. To cut down (a tree) by sawing. c. intr.a., b. pres. c1475 Wall. vii 1151.
A wricht he tuk … And ordand him to saw the burd in twa 1511 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 103.
And for the sawing of the said tymmer being in the wod my lord sal ger schaw thame on his expens 1620 Orkney Rentals App. 51.
As weil thame that sawis as thame that awis the tymber 1645 S. Leith Rec. 58/1.
James Seatone haith promised to cause saw dealls … to mak dead kysts therof 1679 Meikle Old Session Bk. 209.
Sawe 1693 Melrose Reg. Rec. III 115.
To cutt heugh saw and dight … als many couples and jests as would serve ane housep.t. 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 488.
To the sawaris that sewe the said rauchteris 1599 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 701.
To the sawers that sew the treisp.p. c1420 Wynt. vii 545.
A grene tre fra the rwte wes sawyn [W. sewin] 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 152. 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 73. 1567 Edinb. Test. I 49b.
Greit treis of asche sawin to be couppillis 1596 Dalr. I 61/11.
The trie being sawin in it was seine … a meruellous multitude of wormes c1643 Rothes P.
Quhilk trie is lyeing at the ȝett sowne in tuo peices 1688 Smout Sc. Trade 294.
The remanent part of the loading of good merchant deals being good wood four shoin being free of rotten and rivenc. 1496 Treas. Acc. I 281.
To othir tua sawaris at sew with thaim

2. tr., transf. To cut as with a saw. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 161/454.
Uith bluntid knyfe beginn To sau his iointis & leithis & for to hakke his runklid skinn