Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OWERSEE, v. Also ou(e)rsee, o'er-. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. oversee.

1. To superintend, manage (Sc. 1825 Jam.); to tend, look after (animals) (I.Sc., Bnff. 1964). Obs. in Eng. from early 18th c. Also U.S.Ayr. 1727 Sc. Hist. Review I. 167:
He is to oversee the herd, flit the folds, weed corn . . . oversee the cattel after harvest.

†2. To watch over when dying, so as to be a legal witness to the death.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 114:
Then he acted the dying man . . . the neighbours were called in, and he's fair o'erseen as the old saying is, Before good neighbours.

†3. In phr.: overseen with drink, drunk, intoxicated, from the notion of the defaulter “overlooking himself”and neglecting to act properly. Obs. exc. dial. from 17th c. in Eng.Gall. 1720 Session Bk. Minnigaff (1939) 367:
The said Jo. Dumbar having likewise confessed himself once overseen with drink since the last Communion in this place, likewise to be communed with and censured.