Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GUIDSIRE, n. Also -sirr, gude-, †goodsyr, -shir. A grandfather. Also great gudesire, a great-grandfather. Arch. See also Gutcher.Mry. 1706 W. Cramond Grant Court Bk. (1897) 20:
He was of ane evil race of people and both his goodsyrs were wicked and devilish.Kcb. 1715 Kcb. Testaments MS. (1 Oct.):
John Grierson . . . appearand aire to the said Lancelot Grierson his father and guid sirr to the said Robert.Sc. 1816 Scott B. Dwarf vii.:
I can go to the wars in Flanders, as my gude-sire did.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel xxxvi.:
We will uphauld her father, Davy Ramsay, to be a gentleman of nine descents, whase great gude-sire came of the auld martial stock of the House of Dalwolsey.Ags. 1874 C. Sievwright Love Lilts 22:
Young Donald's bride, his goodshir's pride.m.Sc. 1922 J. Buchan Huntingtower iii.:
Tam got killed about Mesopotamy, and his wife took the bairns to her guidsire up at the Garpleheid.