Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SAIL, v., n. Also seil (Cai.). Sc. form and usages. [se(ə)l; Cai. seɪl]

I. v. 1. To be covered over with liquid, be swimming or awash, freq. in ppl.adj. (Kcd., Ags., Fif. 1969), to be in flood.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 78:
'Till Boord and Floor, an a' did sail, Wi' spilt Ale i' the Dark.Nai. 1828 A. Gordon Poems 49:
In staves my stauns he brak them down And set my wort a sailing.Ags.⁶ 1930:
The fluir's fair sailin.

2. To ride or drive in a vehicle of any kind (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Cai., Arg., Ayr., Wgt., Uls. 1969).Arg.² 1931:
Are ye sailin' tae the toon wi' yer motor? if ye are will ye gie me a sate?Cai. 1961 “Castlegreen” Tatties an' Herreen' 21:
They were seilan' doon Traill Street as snowg as ye lik.

3. Phr. to sail laich, to keep quiet, to behave with restraint.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 27:
I'll sail laich, an' hae nae dispeace i' the hoose.

II. n. 1. As in Eng. Hence †sailman, the man in charge of the sail in a fishing-boat (Sh. 1904 E.D.D.). Cf. Eng. sailsman, id.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (4 May):
Jaarm Tulloch, he wis wir sailman.

2. A ride in a cart or other vehicle or on horseback (Cai., Uls. 1904 E.D.D.; Cai., Ayr., Wgt., Uls. 1969).Ayr. 1830 Galt Lawrie Todd vi. viii.:
I thought it my duty to take a sail in our wagon with Mr Herbert.Uls. 1892 Ballymena Obs. (E.D.D.):
Wull ye gie me a sail in the kert?Sth. 1894 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 289:
It is very comical to hear a boy say that he had a “sail” on a horse!Arg. 1936 L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 22:
The weans were wild an' happy: they got a sail hame in a cairt.Wgt. 1939 J. McNeillie Wgt. Ploughman xvi.:
As he came abreast of her he called, “Can A gie ye a sail?”Cai. 1961 “Castlegreen” Tatties an' Herreen' 21:
'E fowk nowadays widna thank ye for a seil in a cert.