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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.

Schefe, Scheif(f, Schif(f, Shyfe, n.¹ Also: schewe, cheif, scheive; schyf(f; schaif(f, shaive, s(c)hawe; sheave; (schell-); schethe, scheitht, scheathe. [ME and e.m.E. schiue (1336), sheeue (1338), schefe (1475), sheue (1485), shife (1515), ? OE *scífe or *scife, MLG, MDu. schîve disc, wheel, pulley, etc.]

1. A slice of bread, also (once) of flesh.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 31.
Sic wifis … That for les thane a schefe of brede Wil gyf thaim oft schamful rede c1650 Spalding II 279.
First, the minister takis ane scheive, efter the blissing, and brakis ane peice and gives to him who is narrest Ib. a1651 Calderwood VII 437.
He gave the thesaurer a shaive of breade; the thesaurer made it to serve other five that were nixt him(2) a1500 Bk. Chess 672.
Thai tuke the flesche of a ȝong hors In thyn schaiffis & laid it on thair cors

b. ? A thin plate, or leaf, (of gold). 1488 Treas. Acc. I 86.
The grete sarpe of gold contenand xxv schaiffis with the fedder betuix

2. A pulley; a wheel, grooved to receive a cord or rope, functioning as part of a pulley system. Also as pille scheve.See also Pillé n. for further examples.(1) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 452.
For the dichting of the greit cheifis for the greit mast 1555 Edinb. Old Acc. I 154.
Thre schawis of bras to the cran, ilk schewe weyand xx pund wecht … ix li., … for … cord to hing the schellis [? for schewis] 1560 Ib. II 99.
Ane new scheif to the pillie 1637–8 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 230.
For mending of the scheiff of the crane 1721 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 123.
To John Black hamerman … for making tuo sheaves [etc.](b) 1583 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 184.
Ane greit scheitht of irne to the said quheill 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 234.
For ane pin of yrone to the scheathe of the windois Ib. 233 (see Pillé n. (2)).(c) 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I 149.
Thre greit schawis … , cords to fessin the shawis to the rufe of the tolbuith to rais the greit brandrauth togidder 1555 Ib. 154 (see (1) above). 1590–1 Ayr B. Acc. 169.
[Timber-work for the 2] schawis [of the Port, £4] 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 461 (see Pillé n. (2)).
Schaif(d) 1497 Treas. Acc. I 358.
To the pottar of Striuelin, for tua schyffis with xiij puleis … v lib. 1504 Ib. II 287.
To the pottar of Strivelin cheild, in full payment of the schiffis for the schip Ib. 429.
Stuf to mak schyffis for the schip 1504–5 Ib. 287.
For xiij brassin schyffis to the said schip, quhilk cost xxxij s. x d. gret Flemys monee 1505 Ib. III 86.
To Robert Bertoun for blokkis and brassin schiffis, paralingis and ȝong frowes 1508 Ib. IV 47.
[102½] stane of coppir to be schiffis for the schip 1534 Ib. VI 234.
For ane brasin shyfe [for a ship] 1537 Linlithgow B. Ct. 31 Oct.
Ane brasing schyf and ane treine schyf with ane bolt of irne(2) 1538 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 20 May.
A pelie schif of bras wyth the stok of the samyn … ane extra of a wyndles … ane dog 1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 258 (see Pillé n. attrib. (1)).
Pille schethis