Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SERGEANT, n. Also Sc. forms sergand (Abd. 1710 Burgh Rec. Abd. (B.R.S.) 340), sargand (Rnf. 1715 W. Hector Judicial Rec. (1876) I. 78), sairg(a)int (Kcb. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister 209; Slk. 1914 Southern Reporter (17 Dec.) 9; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 263), sairjin (Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxx.), sergen (Abd. 1921 R. L. Cassie Doric Ditties 25), serjin (Abd. 1917 E. S. Rae Private J. M'Pherson 2; ne.Sc. 1970). Deriv. serjeandrie, the office of sergeant in a sheriffdom, whose duty it was to arrest and incarcerate those accused or suspected of crime under the sheriff's warrant. The office was freq. hereditary. [′serdʒənt]Lnl. 1739 Caled. Mercury (6 Nov.):
The office of Mair of Fee and Serjeandrie of the Sheriffdom of Linlithgow.