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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

†SAULIE, n., v. Also -ey, sa(u)ltie, -ey, sa(w)lie, salee, -y, sali-. [′sǫle]

I. n. A hired mourner at a funeral who preceded the cortege with a black staff and other symbols of mourning, a mute (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Comb. saliman, id.Sc. 1739 Caled. Mercury (7 June):
His Goun in Mourning, as Lord Provost, was carried by a Gentleman immediately before the Corpse surrounded by Ushers and Salleys.Sc. 1742 Session Papers, Petition Sir W. Sinclair (27 Nov. 1764) Depos. 10:
To six men who carried the corpse at 2s. To four salimen at 1s. 6d.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 114:
How come mankind, whan lacking Woe, In Saulie's face their Heart to show.Sc. 1814 J. Train Mountain Muse 206–7:
The Saullies were people hired to walk in front of funerals, with a melancholy voice, at short intervals, to proclaim this rude rhyme, only varying the name as occasion required: Alas! Sir Archibald Kennedy's gone, And so good behind him he has left none.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxxi.:
The sad procession now moved slowly forward, preceded by the beadles or saulies, with their batons, — miserable-looking old men, tottering as if on the edge of that grave to which they were marshalling another, and clad, according to Scottish guise, with threadbare black coats, and hunting-caps, decorated with rusty crape.Sc. 1834 Tait's Mag. (Oct.) 605:
A black velvet mantle, for all the world like a saulie's cloak.Edb. 1849 J. A. H. Macdonald Life Jottings (1915) 187:
Two mutes, called in Scotland “saulies” — perhaps this was a nickname — were posted, one at each side of the house door, with broad bands on their hats, and hanging down almost to their waists. Each had a long pole, which was hung with black, looped up like a window-curtain. When the cortege was to move the “saulies” marched in front.Gsw. 1904 H. Foulis Erchie iv.:
Crape's oot o' date, mistress. It's no the go noo at a' in Gleska; ye micht as weel expect to see the auld saulies.Rnf. 1910:
Hurry up there! Ye're crawlin' alang like a saulie.

¶II. v. tr. To act as a saulie for (a dead person).Gsw. a.1900 Trans Slg. Nat. Hist. Soc. (1924) 109:
When the conversation turned upon the subject of whether a certain man was dead, the voice of the hired waiter being heard, as he handed the viands, “Oh aye, he's deed, for I sallied him”.