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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.

S(c)hirefdom(e, Schiraf-, S(c)heref-, Schirradom(e, n. Also: schiref(f)e-, shireff-, -aff-, -ave-, -iff-, schyraf-, s(c)hyref(f)-, schirref-, -af(e)-, -iff-, -awe-, shirref-, -eif-, -iff-, schyrref-, -awe-, -af(e)-; schereff-, -eue-, -aff-, -if-, sheraf-, -if-, sherref-, seref(f)-, serref-; schref(f)-, shref(f)-, shreif, shrief-, shriev-, schrife-, schrafe-, screiff-; schirue-, scherue-; schyeraf-; s(c)hira-, schirray-, schir(r)e-, schyrra(y)-, syrray-, sherra-, s(c)hera-, scheray-, shery-; cherre- and -doom(e, dowm(e, doum(e, -dume; -dam; (serrefume). [S(c)hiref n. Cf. e.m.E. sherifedome (1610).]

1. The district, or area, under the jurisdiction of a sheriff.‘The Scottish sheriffdom appears to have been in origin an artificial unit coinciding with no previous land-division and ruled by no natural geographical bounds. … the earlier sheriffdoms … all took their names from the castle of the king. … The early connection between sheriff, sheriffdom, castle, and burgh is very close. … But long before the fifteenth century … small sheriffdoms … were united to form larger sheriffdoms’ Fife Sheriff Ct. 369–370, 378–379). See Fife Sheriff Ct. 347–388, esp. pp. 370–1 and p. 379.For further examples, see Bailliery n., Bailȝery n., Barony n., Barounry n., Constabulary n. and Stewartry n.(1) 1391 Lennox Mun. 44.
The justery of the schirefdomez of Striuelyne and Dunbertane 1397 Douglas Chart. 38.
The kyng sall gif in fe and eritage all the profytis … of the justery of the hale schirrefdome of Forfare c1420 Wynt. vii 1168.
Malcolme … than gert he Be throwch the land traweland In ilke schyrrawedome off the land c1420 Bute MS fol. 141.
The qwhilk ton … is … with in the schyrrefdome or constabulary of L. 1431 Reg. Great S. 45/2.
The shyrefdome of Angous 1450 Coll. Hist. Aberd. & B. 428.
All and hayll our landis … lyande withtin the schyreffdome off Aberden 1452 Douglas Chart. 78.
The schirefedome of Roxburgh 1494 Acta Aud. 190/1.
William Cunyngham … crovnare & mare of fee within the schirrefdome of Ranfrew 1501 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 638.
In the baronye of Glencors in the schirefdome of Edinburgh 1517 Reg. Privy S. I 457/1.
The schirefdome of our said burch of Wigtoun 1529 Red Bk. Grandtully I 68.
In ane court be me fensit, I creat … maris and officiaris of the said schirefdome of Pertht 1531 Fam. Rose 201.
Shirefdowm 1542 Grant Chart. 88.
Schirrefdowme Ib. 89.
The schirefdowme of Aberdein 1549 Coll. Hist. Aberd. & B. 115.
The … schirefdume of Inuernis 1587 Acts III 510/1.
[The king] ordanis the commissioners of all the schirefdomes of this realme … to be electit be the frehalders foirsaidis at the first heidcourt efter Michaelmes ȝeirlie 1596 Dalr. I 33/22.
The schirrefdome … of Perth is nocht litle bot ample indede and large 1605 Reg. Great S. 607/2.
Within the schirefdome and faudrie of Zetland 1679 Stirlings of Keir 516.
The shirreifdome of Sterling 1685 Sc. Ant. XIII 38.
The shirrefdom of Ross 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 201.
It is bounded on the east with the shirefdome of Lanrick(b) 1386 Rot. Sc. II 85/2.
The possessions that the Kyng of Ingland and his leges had in the shiravedam of Berewyk 1393 Reg. Morton II 192.
The landis … within the schirrafdome of Edynburgh 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 139.
Land … lyand in the barounry of Kylbryde within the schirafdome of Lanark 1402 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
Within the schirrafdome of Pert 1406 (1427) Reg. Great S. 17/1.
Landis … lyand wythin the barony of Dalmelyntoun wythin the schyrrafedome of Are 1407 Bk. Carlaverock II 418.
The schyrafdom of Clydysdall 1456–7 Reg. Dunferm. 340.
Lyand in the regalite of Dunfermlyn and in the schirrafdom of Fyff 1493 Lennox Mun. 148.
The shiraffdomys of Streweling and Dunbertane(c) 1456 Reg. Panmure II 239.
Schirriffdome of Forfar 1470 Ib. 246.
Shiriffdome of Forfar(d) 1426 Cal. Charters Suppl. (Reg. H.) 16 Jan.
The scherefdome of Banf 1440 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 10.
The serrefdom of Aberdene 1454 Douglas Chart. 383.
The schereuedome of Are 1472 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 590.
The serefdoume of Abirdene 1499–1500 Hist. Pluscardyn 235.
The sereffdomis of Elgin Fores and Narne 1509–10 Peebles Chart. 43.
I Johnne Bennet, kingis sergeand of the scherefdome of Peblis 1519 Buccleuch Mun. II 137.
The schereffdoume of Peblis 1531–9 St. A. Formulare II 100.
The sherefdome of Fyife 1561 Rec. Earld. Orkney 267.
Land … in … mainland of Orknay and scherefdoome of the samyn 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 178.
The … schereffdome of Perth 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 4.
The saidis landis … liand within the regalitie and baronie foirsaid and serefdome of Edinburgh 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 128.
Ane justice air court of the scherefdomes of Dunbartane and Renfrew 1604 Inverness Rec. II 27.
The serefdom of Innernes 1643 Galloway P. 27 Jan.
The serrefume of Wigtoune 1664 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 389.
The … sherefdoom of Lanerick(e) 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 138.
The scheraffdom of Cliddisdall 1423 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 33.
The sherafdoum of Dumfres(f) 1542 Fraser P. 180.
Or sherifdom of Aberden 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 154.
The sherifdomes of Lanerk and Renfrew a1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 572.
The sherifdome of Perth(g) 1431 Highland P. II 166.
The schrafedome of Clakmanane 1495 Contract (Mey P.) MS 13 June.
The … schreffdome of Inuernis 1582 Perth B. Ct. 5 May.
The … schrefdome of Forfar 1596 Paisley B. Rec. 185.
The … shrievdom of Renfrew 1671 Samsons Riddle 159.
The screiffdomes of Renfreu and Aire 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 67.
The shreifdome of Linlithgow and Stirling(h) 1428 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 461.
In the scheruedom of Abirdene(i) 1384 Misc. Hist. Soc. V 33.
The forsayd quarter of Colstoun liand within the schiredome of Fyfe 1396 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. I 96.
The schyrraydome of Banfe 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
The syrraydowm of Are 1428 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 460.
The schirredome of Mernis 1431 Liber Melros II 522.
The schirradome of Berwic 1434 Buccleuch Mun. II 418.
The chapale … within the parych kyrk of Sant Androw of Peblis … wythin the schyrradume of Pebles 1435 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 189.
Liand within the sad schirradom of Abirden 1436 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 45.
The … schirraydome of Drumfres 1439 Douglas Chart. 67.
The schirredome of Forfare 1458 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 325.
The shiradome of Abirdene 1466 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 395.
Schiradome 1546 Prot. Bk. Sir Wm. Corbet 9.
The schirradome of Barwyk(j) 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS 410/1.
The sheradom of Perth 1402 Reg. Panmure II 184.
The cherredome of Anguse 1407 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 32.
The scheradome of Edynburgh 1437 Rep. Boyle Mun. in 8th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 307/2.
The scheraydome of Louthiane 1653 Retours I Inq. Spec. Linlithgow (183).
The … sheradome of Edinburgh 16.. Fraser in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 217.
The sherydome of Argayll(2) 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 33.
In al schirefdomes [v.r. schirrafedomis] qwhare as thai be witht in the kinryk of Scotland 1424 Acts Jas. I (Edinb. Univ. MS Borland No. 207) 83.
Ilk schirrawe in his schirrawedome sall ger cal befor hym all the barownis and fre hauldaris of the kyng 1427 Acts II 15/1.
Swa that of ilk schirrefdome thare be sende … twa or ma wismen efter the largenes of the schirrefdome … the quhilk salbe callit commissaris of the schire 1429–30 Acts Jas. I in Ayr B. Ct. 6 March.
Quhedir he be mar of fee of the hale schirafdome or of part Ib.
Schyerafdomys 14.. Acts I 7/2.
That thai sal leilly serve the kyng in thar awin schirefdome Ib. 361/2.
Sherradome Ib. 10/2.
The kyngis mutis of ilk bothyn [L. in quocunque comitatu] (that is to say of ilk schirefdome) 1430 Ib. II 19/2.
It is statute … that all frehaldaris duelland within ony schirrefdomis comper at the hede courtis in thar propir personis 1457 Acts XII 25/1.
Quhilke assise [was] … chosin be thar avise of foure schiradomes 1493 Red Bk. Menteith II 302.
Sherrefdome 1505 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 50.
Shrefdome 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 205. 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 35.
The cheff merket of that scherefdome 1533 Boece 548.
Fra all schirefdomes and regiouns of Scotland he [sc. Wallace] collectit weriouris 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 117.
The sute roll of thair sherefdome 1535 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 186.
Ane of the maris generall of the said shireffdome 1575 Grant Chart. 155.
Assyis ane or ma within oure said schirefdome and four half [next?] about, to summond, warne, cheis and caus be sworne 1580 Exch. R. XXI 546.
John Campbell … schireff principall of Narne … band and oblist him to mak his compt eque of the said schirefdome 1590 Conv. Burghs I 340.
Schrifedomis 1597 Skene Verb. S. (1599) s.v. Schireffe.
Ane schyre or schireffedome, is ane parte of lande, cutted and separate be certaine meithes and marches from the reste Ib. s.v. Bothna. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 167b.
The frieholders of the scherifdome … suld convoy the justice, and his deputis, to the place appointed 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 72.
Commissioners of shriefdomes a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 32.
The shreiff hes no jurisdictione … outwith his owen shireffdoome 1635 Justiciary Cases I 250.
Aberdene … the heid burcht of the schirefdome 1662 Acts Sederunt ii 84.
Lands lyeing in severall shirriffdoms 1662 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 230.
The same [lands] ly not contigue and together but in diverse shirefdoms 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 24.
The heid courts of the shreffdome 1668 Forbes Baron Ct. 274.
Be for the court or any other jugditorie vithin the shirefdome

b. transf. The persons administering a sheriffdom. c1650 Spalding I 133.
And that ilk schirefdome sould try the number of thair men and armes

2. The office, or position, of sheriff. = S(c)hirefs(c)hip n.¹ 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 172.
The office of the schiruedome of Roxburghe 1454–5 Southesk MSS 720/2.
The seile of the office of the schirefdume of Forfare [etc.] 1504 Prot. Bk. J. Young 322.
The said Margaret … has renuncit and ouregevin … the scherefdome of Edinburgh 1508–9 Reg. Privy S. I 278/2.
Actis … made anent giffing of officis in heretage or dimissioun of schirefdomes 1596 Dalr. I 127/15.
This office na vthirwyse dependes than of heritage quhairthrouch vnto thame selfes thay ascriue schirrefdomes 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 88/4.
The greatest hinder to the execution of oure law … is thir heritable shirefdomes c1614 Melrose P. 172.
We haif heirwith send vnto youre maiestie three personis in lyte for euery one of these schirefdomes