Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Scarsment, Scairsment, n. Also: skars(e)-, skaris-; skairs-; scerce-. Med. L. (north. Eng.) scarcementum (1398 in OED); Scarse v.] A ledge or shelf of stone in a wall; specif. in the foundation of a building serving as the base for a wall, or in a wall as a support for cross-beams, etc. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1434.
Pinnakillis, fyellis, turnpekkis mony one, … Skarsment [L. skarsement], reprise, corbell and batellingis [etc.] 1529 Edinb. Guild Ct. 29 April.
And that the said George hes ane skarisment with tymmer table and watter table that [etc.] 1532 Ib. 19 Nov.
That the said George Mayne sall leif still the scarsment on the north of the said gavill 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 44.
To that effect to big and upput ane upricht gawill fra the grund of the skarsement of ane auld gavill alreddie foundit in the said Thomas land 1611 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 336.
For poynting of scercementes and for poynting of wondokes 1620 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 124.
That ane skairsment fra the ground of asler wark be biggit at the north side of the tobuith stair of ane ressounable hight above the steps for saifty of persons repairing up & doun 1664 Peebles B. Rec. II 61.
The magistrattes … grantes licence … to … John Crichtoun to found the said gavill upon the saids … scairsments of the said putt joynd to the steiple, the said John Crichtoun not extending … the said gavill beyond the saids tua first scairsments