Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡HEIDSMAN, n. Also headsman. A leader, superior, a foreman, e.g. over farm-labourers (Uls.³ 1930); an inspector appointed by a trade to examine the quality of its work.Ayr. 1761 Coll. Ayrshire Arch. & Nat. Hist. Soc. V. 86:
And that there shall be two headsmen or Inspectors Chosen yearly from amongst our number Who shall have power to Judge our work and prices And if any Member is found faulty That he shall Pay a fine therefore as the Headsmen shall determine Which headsmen shall also receive all the moneys after mentioned belonging to our society and give out and apply the same as the Trade or a Majority of them shall think fitt.Edb. 1856 J. Ballantine Poems 99:
He ne'er parts wi' master, nor master wi' him, Gin sulky the headsman, the herdsman looks grim.