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.

Senesc(h)all, n. [ME and e.m.E. seneschal (Piers Plowman), senescal (c1400), seneschalle (a1450), sencial (Malory), senes(c)hall, etc., OF seneschal, senechal (c1119 and c1265 in Larousse), L. senescallus.] A great officer of state; a steward or similar official charged with administering the estate or household of a king, magnate, etc. b. specif. The person with jurisdiction over a country, city, etc. c. The Steward of Scotland; = Stewart n. 1.For Latin and French examples of senescallus and seneschal, see Stewart n.a., b. (1) 1456 Hay I 182/7.
The seneschall … aw to be a wys man 1494 Loutfut MS 10a.
And it war to the marschall the admirall the gret maistir of the albelestris the gret seneschall gif thai be dukis or erelis eftir thar estat c1510 Prester John fol. 310.
And gyf it plasit ȝow till cum till ws [we] walde with gude wyll mak ȝow our senescall & our stewart and kyng and gidar our landis wndir ws(2) 1456 Hay I 181/13.
The Senescall of Bordeoux, quhilk is ane Inglis lord 1460 Hay Alex. 2091.
Jonas Senescall of Grece Haid made mareage with Cleopatra his nece 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 207.
Being requirit be the saidis Lordis to produce the commissioun direct to the Senescall of Nantis for examinatioun of witnes and deductioun of the probatioun in the mater persewitc. 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 242.
The whilk charter being a long time after confirmed by Robert, Senescall of Scotland, Earle of Stratherne