Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Over-, Ovir-, Owerséing, vbl. n. Also: over-, owersieing. [e.m.E. overseinge (1513).]

1. Inspection. 1662 Rothesay B. Rec. 297.
The owersieing of loneinges quhair the passages neadis repairatioun

2. Overseeing, superintending, managing; also, supervising. 1566 Mill Mediæv. Plays 343.
His … extraordinare seruice … in the dressing & ouirseing & causing to mak this triomphe of fyrework 1579–80 Inverness Rec. I. 276.
In case thai be fundin sleuthfull in owerseing of the saidis pottis 1584 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI. 119.
That office quhilk consistes specialie in censuring and owerseing of maners 1629 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 25.
Owersieing 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 288.
For overseing and menteining cocks of the cisternes 1679 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
Oversieing

3. Disregarding, neglecting, failure to punish. 1502–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 97.
Throw owerseing of guid rewle 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 206.
For the ouerseing of sic a fylthie cryme a1578 Pitsc. I. 80/2.
Throw the owerseing of the theiffis and murtheraris