Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sarcinett, Sars(e)net, Sas(i)nett, Sessenot, Sesnet(t, n. Also: Cesnat. [ME and e.m.E. sarsinet (1378), sarsenet (1394), sarcenet (1477), sarsynet (1483), sesenet (1521), sarsnet (1610), AF sarzinett, prob. dimin. of sarzin Saracen(e n. and adj.: cf. MF drap sarrazinoiz (1567 in Tobler-Lommatzsch), med. L. pannus saracenicus ‘Saracen cloth’.] Sarcenet, the silken material. b. Sessenot-taffetie, sesnetis taffeties, taffata-sarsenet, taffetas sarcinett, ? a taffeta of this variety, a specially fine silken variety of taffeta (also e.m.E. taffeta sarsnet (1610 B. Jonson Alchemist ii ii)). — 1635 Balfour Her. Tracts 117.
3 ells reid sasinett for 2 branches at £4 the elne is £12 … 6 quarters blew sesnett for ane branch £6 … 6 quarters ȝellou sasnett for ane branch £6 —b. (1) 1624 Edinb. Test. LII 321.
Nyne ellis sessenot taffetie at xlvij s. vj d. the elne 1631 Ib. LV 136.
Four scoir … elles panis and sesnetis taffeties —(2) 1642 Caldwell P. 94.
I pray you send me fortie ells of taffata sarsenet such as will not run & scatter in the threads for thinnes nor will not frett by stiffnes 1657 Balfour Ann. II 108.
His [sc. King James VI's] skin vas als softe as tafta sarsnet 16.. Alchem. MSS V.
And breye it in a brasen morter into ane fyne pouder be searceing it in a pottingars box throcht a taffetas sarcinett