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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Sed(e, Seid(e, n. Also: sced, seyd(e, seiyde, seed(e, sead, siede, sid(d. [ME and e.m.E. sed (Orm), sede (c1250), side (Cursor M.), seed (Chaucer), OE sǽd.]

1. The seeds of crops or plants, collectively, especially as intended for sowing; seed.Also with defining terms, as anet, ate, bere, chesbow, coriander, cumming (kimming), ennet, fir, ingȝo(u)n, kale, letteis, linget, lint, mariolene, mustard, rede nettill: See the various separate entries.For many additional examples see the Indexes to Treas. Acc. I-IV , X and XI.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 248.
Thai twa ȝere had of that quhet Ynuch til sed & til ete a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 994.
To saw that land he had no sede 1456 Hay I 241/2.
The custume that is in Provence that women bare the sede to the laboure a1500 Henr. Fab. 1750 (Bann.).
Out of the erd schraip we ȝone sede anone 1483 Acta Conc. II cxxxiii.
He payand the penny male … for the land that was sawin with his sede(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1004.
Hym … I pray At he … wald help me Of his seide with sic quantite 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 177.
Guldy placis at or fouyl tha sal labour to cleynge with chayng and reneuyng of seyd and siftyng of thar avyng seyd a1500 Henr. (OUP) Fab. 367.
As fitchis myngit ar with nobill seid 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 123.
A part of his seid being sawing and the remanent redy til saw 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxv.
In Buchquhane growis aitis but ony tilth or seid 1559 Wemyss Chart. 296.
Seid to saw vpoun the manis and grange of oure said place 1560 Conf. Faith in Acts II 532/2.
Ȝit sall it efter bring furth frute as liuely seid sawin in gude ground a1568 Scott xxx 45.
As grund is ordand to beir seid a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 62/31. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 102.
The increase is small of seid to timelie sowine 1595 Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. I 143.
The tua manis of Dunbar plenist with the kingis graice awin seid war set in assedatioun to Andro bischop of Aberdeen 1596 Dalr. I 122/16.
Sawe na seid in the ground excepte it be cleine of hurtful pikils 1596 Dalr. I 34/29. 1611 Fugitive Poetry II ii 8.
For smoring seid and talent under ground 1615 Sutherland Bk. II 118. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 241. 1637 Innes Sketches 579.
I … doe find by proofe that the soorest waye to make them [sc. fir trees] prosper is to saw them in the seid c1637 Innes Sketches 520.
He can win the seid himselue … so ye wil only neid to send him the noutis(2) 1490 Irland Mir. III 38/9.
The seid of quheit, ber or aitis castin in the erd fyrst is corrumpit and turnis and is changit and gretlie multipliit in new corne 1513 Doug. i vii 35.
The hwny smellys of the sweit tyme seid 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 528.
For half a boll hemp seid to the birdis 1559 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 355.
Unyun seid and uder dyvers kynd of seidis to him, 52 s. 6 d. 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II 350.
That purposlie in this present tyme of thair ait seid thay may be put to travell 1596 Dalr. I 17/6.
Sik kynde of drink as thir natiouns haue plesure off, to wit, maid of ale, of honie, anat seide, [etc.] 1597 Crim. Trials II 29.
To tak rawff Spainȝie seid and steip it amang quyte wyne and gif it to drink for the fawing-evill 1625 Conv. Burghs III 198. 1660 S. Ronaldshay 30.
Kathareen … directed her to … pull some of the seid of slos or rusches 1663 Conv. Burghs III 564 marg.
Excys on lingit seed 1665 Lamont Diary 178.
In many places the oatte seide was sooner done this yeire nor in many yeirs formerly 1670 Boyd Fam. P. No. 299.
Ane unce of carrot seid … half ane unce of turnip seid … twa drop of worme seid 1702 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 11.
To Grisies nurs for lint sead 18 s.(3) 1613 Hawthornden's Miscellanies in Arch. Scot. IV 78.
One who wore long hair being asked … why he suffred his haire to grow to that length? Answered, it was to see if it would turne to sead, that he might saw some of it on the pates of those who were bald

b. pl. Kinds or varieties of seed.(a) 1456 Hay I 12/13.
The sparow … lyfis on sedis that ar poysoun till othir foulis 1552 Treas. Acc. X 83.
Coft and send to Lynlythqw to my lord governouris gardnar thir sedis following, ane pund of unȝeoun seid … half ane pund of leik seid, [etc.] 1552–3 Treas. Acc. X 168.
Divers sedis to be sawyn in my lorde governoures ȝairdes thair 1553 Treas. Acc. X 205.
To Moresoun, gairdnar of the abbay of Halyrudhous, for sindrye sedis ressavit be him in the moneth of Aprile(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1719.
To se the soill that wes richt sessonabill Sappie, and to resaue all seidis abill a1500 Henr. Fab. 1723. 1491 Treas. Acc. I 176.
To the gardnare of Lythqow to by seydis to the gardin, x s. c1515 Asl. MS I 300/17.
Caym offering waike seidis with peruersit spreit 1554 Prot. Bk. Sir A. Gaw 33.
[He] sal leif … to his said son … twa ky [etc.] … and the grund sawin wytht all seidis as efferis 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 485.
[They] destroyed … kaill, lint and uther seids(c) 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xviii.
Buriall in kirk may be counted with the lintsey wolsey confusions, or like the commixtion of sundrie seeds

2. An individual grain of seed.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 31 (A).
Vnder the cerkill solar thir sauorus seidis War nurist be dame Natur a1500 Colk. Sow iii 67.
Lyk o sede sawin in erd mortificat 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 94/5.
Of small seidis the Liban cedres grow 1622 Crim. Trials III 533.
Scho tuik ane schooe and pat in sum seidis thairin 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 292.
All confeits … shall be … made of … sugar onlie and of the sufficient respective fruitts and seeds(2) 1550 Treas. Acc. IX 426.
Tua gret polkes of annat sedis 1561–2 Inverness Rec. I 75.
Scedis 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 12 July.
Onion seids c1690 Dunlop P. III 55.
3 drop of the musk melon seeds for baromtimber [sic] … 4 unces of pinetree seeds for improveing of grase [etc.]

3. pl. The husks of grain, esp. oats, separated by grinding, particles of bran. Also attrib.(a) 1540 Linlithgow B. Ct. 8 Oct.
Johne Wawane is awand him for mele sedes vj s. iiij d.(b) 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Furfur, purgamentum farinae, branne clats, seids of meale 1598 Acts IV 179/2.
The haill subiectis susteinis greit lose and skayth in paying als deir for dust and seidis as gif the samyn wes guid meill 1599 Misc. Maitl. C. III 342.
For fyve bollis and ane half seidis 1629 Linlithgow B. Rec. 20 March.
In cais any of the milleris … grind any seidis at the mylne, … the doeris thairof sall be punisched 1671 Forbes Baron Ct. 282.
That the tennentis vithtin thair seyverall suckines sall pay thair kenship of that samen meill of thair ferm vith the seides of the keiship [sic] of the ferm meill allennerallie … , and kenship of the rest of thair meill vithout seides 1684 Fawside Coal Compt 121.
To Duncan for seids to the dogs(c) 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 385.
The grund malt being mixed with scheling siedes(d) 1673 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 166.
He was coming by the mill and called for a lippie of sidds to his doggs 1686 Red Bk. Menteith I 415.
Of sowne sids, weill mixt with meallattrib. 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 236.
1602 was a dearth and famin all the North and Highlands over. … The straw blancht, and such corn as it afforded yelded no male [= meal] but lickdusted trash, without any aliment … . This was called by the vulgar Blean in Chāā, the sidd yeare, becaus the corn yelded no meale, but seeds

4. fig. The initial germ of some growth, development, ideology, etc., as ‘sown’ or propagated.Freq. in religious contexts, as of disseminating the doctrines of Christianity.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i 77.
He … sew sa Goddis sede … At he to Criste mony wane a1400 Leg. S. vi 119.
Der Jhesu … Blys vith thi hand this gadd[er]ynge & [in] thar hortis the sed schaw Of lestand [lif] a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 942, etc. 1490 Irland Mir. I 100/10.
Jhesus … the man that is the angell sede and nurysyne 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 517.
Although some off the new comme sede is ordeyned to be planted in my gardeyn, yet I change not(b) a1400 Leg. S. xl 133.
In Goddis ȝard to set plucht, To schau his seiyde & wine his corne a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 137.
The seid of lufe was sawin in my face a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 139. a1568 Kennedy Bann. MS I p. 39/38.
Sathanas sic seid sawis c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. 354/51.
The foule seid that men callis symonye c1552 Lynd. Mon. 431. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 6.
Mony infectionis and corruptioun, quhilkis ar the seid & cheif causis of sindre diseisis quhilkis ar callit epidimiall a1578 Pitsc. II 59/14. 1579 Acts III 178/2.
The vniuersiteis of this realme appointit for educatioun of the ȝowth quhilk sould be the seid and vphald of the commoun welth and kirk of God 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 78/2. 1596 Dalr. II 374/12. 1600-1610 Melvill 229. 1622-6 Bisset II 319/9.
The bluid of the martiris is the seid of the kirk(c) 1699 Conv. Burghs IV 294.
And that not soe much as the seed of pley may remain to foster … the seed of stryff and contention be either pairty against the other(2) 1456 Hay I 12/16.
A man that … takis to his fude the sedis of errouris and herisy c1460 Thewis Wysmen 63.
Clerkis that … Our-seis thar bukis and takis out sedis, The word of God quhilk saulys fedis 1562-3 Winȝet I 24/15.
The grammar sculis quhairin commonlie the maist happy and first sedis of the said common welth ar sawin(b) a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 304/26. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 59.
Quhairto tendit thay seidis of discord scatterit betwene the king and the nobilitie? 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 267/2.
That the seids of this sedition were sawen by the plotters of the Covenant(c) 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 311.
To the effect all seeds of animosities betwixt them … and the calling may be taken away at the root

b. The basic ‘kernel’ or animating principle of a living creature; the ‘soul’. 1513 Doug. vi xii 18.
A hait fyry power, warm and dew, Hevinly begynngng and original, Beyn in thar sedis quhilk we saulys call [L. Igneus est ollis vigor et caelestis origo Seminibus] 1562-3 Winȝet II 56/16.
That … thai saw nocht fetcheis vpon that guid seid of the quheit, quhilk the Sone of Man hes sawin in his croft

5. Semen, chiefly or only with reference to its reproductive function; a line of descent, passing into sense 6. b. transf. Also of the means of reproduction of a woman. 1375 Barb. i 63.
For than the neyst cummyn off the seid Man or woman suld succeid a1400 Leg. S. ii 1046.
We ar of ryall kyne Of … Abraham, Ysaac & Jacob … Yhe are cumyne of folk but drede, That God wrocht nathing in thare sede [L. vos autem ex gentibus nihil in semine vestro magnum … extitistis] ?1438 Alex. ii 266.
He left tua childer of his sede c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2060.
Now this Agamenone, we of reid, Had o sone gottin of his seid c1420 Wynt. iv 1798.
Wes Bretownys than off Brwtys sede c1420 Wynt. vii 561.
This tre yhe may wndyrstand To be the kynryk off Ingland … The rwte, yhe trow, kyngys sede, Quhare-off all kyngis come c1450-2 Howlat 723 (A).
Ferme our seid to the set quhar thi son is 1456 Hay II 142/5.
Mistemperance of metis and drynkis quhilkis corrumpis mannis naturale sede, quhilkis engenderis quhilum [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I 95/1.
The seid passis and is resauit in thire membris in fleschly lust 1490 Irland Mir. II 100/4. 1492 Myll Spect. 293/9.
The Ante Cryst salbe ingenerit on a non quharfor [I] think all gud Cristyn man suld feir to saw his seid in the ground quhar sic wikkit frute sall grow a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 131.
But seid of man this virgin … The Sone of God consauit c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 161/4.
A swenyng swyth did me assaile Off sonis of Sathanis seid c1510 Prester John 310b.
To byg ane palece to the wark of the sone quhylk suld proced of hys seide 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 8.
In fragil flesch ȝour fykkil syed is saw c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 40.
All folkis heir on liue Hes not … the … prerogatiue Of abstinence and clene virginitie For and sa war na seid war successiue, The warld war tume of all kin folkis 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII 222.
Ye did confess that Sathan had carnal dealing with you … and … that his body was cold and his seed likewiseb. a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 337.
& woman … Suld man haf hyre make to be For the sawyng of thare sede That thare o[f]spryng mycht grew in brede 1490 Irland Mir. I 95/5.
He had na carnale fadere in erd, na be the seid of man or woman suld nocht be consauit

6. Progeny, offspring. Said of more than one person collectively, applied to a single individual. Also pl. b. transf. Where the ‘father/child’ link is other than biological.(1) c1420 Ratis R. 1123.
Bot lauch ore gret for joy & care Na best has thai twa propriteis Bot seid of mankind, as thow seis 1459 Peebles B. Rec. I 132.
God forbet that neuir nan of hym na his sed com in that malyn agan c1475 Wall. xi 1332.
Thow has [thi] lyff rongyn in wrangwis deid That sall be seyn on thé or on thi seid 1513 Doug. iv v 182.
Behald Ascanyus vpwalxing, And the gret hope of his seid and ofspring [L. spes heredis Iuli] 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 199.
That realm … The quhilk was hecht till Abraham and hys seyd 1533 Gau 35/6.
He is the seid of voman quhilk God promist suld [etc.] 1549 Lamb Resonyng 35/4.
God will nocht suffir sic bastard seid to ringne 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 480.
The maledictione of the pure Sall on ȝow and ȝour seid indure 1567 G. Ball. 98.
Ȝit sall his seid leif into plenteousnes, Aboundantlie posses greit ryches a1568 Bann. MS 140a/6.
Thow Sathanas seid ay sett to evill a1570-86 Maitl. F. 423/142. 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii 38. 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi 123.
That fals and degenerat seid Of Douglassis a1585 Maitl. Q. 147/165.
He … luit him sie his sonis sonis seid 1596 Dalr. I 80 marg.
The seid and successione of Simon Brechus stil inherited Irland 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 156/6.
What offence From Edens both, chas'd Adams selfe and seede 1665 Sel. Biog. I 460.
‘May be my God, and the God of my seed after me’(2) pl. c1515 Asl. MS I 300/12.
The secund batell in paradys betuix the angell and tham a certane of thair sedis to saluacon eternale a1585 Maitl. Q. 186/24.
So lat his bluid be on thair heidis On thair posteritie and seidisb. a1568 Dunb. Bann. MS I p. 10/92.
The hevinnis blis, the hellis hidduous sede [B., M. feid; Arund. confide] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 38.
God saif ȝow seid of Salomon [sc. the seven sages of Greece] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6407.
Gomorras graceles gyde, and Sodomes schameles seid

c. Passing into: A particular people or ‘breed’ descended from the same common stock; hence, a people, race. 1531 Bell. Boece II 340.
That na successioun sal cum of this wickit seid [M. seyde] [sc. the men of Caithness], he gart geld thair sonnis 1549 Compl. 27/24.
Til extinct that false seid [sc. the English] ande that incredule generatione furtht of rememorance 1549 Compl. 186/24. 1617 Edinb. Test. L 28b.
My corpis to be buriet amangis the seid of the resurrectioune 1588 The Spyte of Spaine 36.
A packe … Of Spanȝards seede 1588 The Spyte of Spaine 46.
Make yee no speede To finde remeede That savage seede Will quickly quaill you

d. Said of a single individual, without overt identification of a progenitor.By implication, the progeny of Satan (= ‘spawn’), or of God. Cf. b above. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2068.
Curst creature, and also shameles seid 1567 G. Ball. 75.
Us blis, and mak thankfull in deid, Be Jesus Christ, that blissit seid

7. attrib. and comb. a. Seid-etis, -aittis, (-oats), -bere, -corn(is, -peise, oats, etc. for use as seed. Also ellipt. b. Seed-box, seids-tub. c. Seid-foul, a seed-eating bird.Also Sedeman, Sede-time.a. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 372.
To William Spicehous, be the kingis command, to by him seid beir to ane tak 1548–9 Inchcolm Chart. 94.
Nout sed cornis plewchis and plewch gere [etc.] 1562 Maxwell Mem. I 298.
Five merkis to by seid aittis 1579 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 3 April.
Be telling, ering & sawing of certand seid aittis vpone the ground of the said rowme 1587 St. A. Test. II 91b.
For four bollis seid beir price of the boll iij lib. vj s. viij d. 1597 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 61.
xv lib. for thre bollis seyd aettis to be delyverit me at seyd tyme 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI 309b.
Thrie bollis feildland seid aittis 1630 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 21 April.
Thrie bollis black seid eittis 1639 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 466. 1658 Edinb. Test. LXIX 88.
xxxiv thraves seid peise at fyve thrave the boll 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 226.
Guid and sufficient steilbow seid oats accompteing sixten peckes to the boll measur of Nyth 1672 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 3 July.
To Thomas Smith in Whyteseid for seid corne fiftie merks 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 157.
For sex ealls of broune cloth … and for ane peick of seid beir for to pey for the leating of it 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 171.
For ten peiks of seed cornellipt. 1638 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 464.
That the haill cornes quhilk grow thairon … the seid being deducit allenarlie sould be grund at the said Milne … and that … he … sould pey … the tuantie peck of all cornes … except the seid … as the multer deuitieb. (1) 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 357.
2 seed boxes 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 365.
A seed box with a cover(2) pl. 1686 Brechin Test. VII 162b.
Ane beefe tub and ane seids tubc. c1450-2 Howlat 238 (A).
All se fowle and seid fowle was nocht for to seike

d. Seid-silver, money for seed.1569 Reg. Privy S. VI 145/2. 1578 Reg. Privy S. VII 268/2.