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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OWERSMAN, n. Also owresman, (h)oursman, oarsman (Fif. 1868 St. Andrews Gazette (18 April)), over(i)sman. [′ʌurzmən]

1. A foreman, overseer in general.Sc. 1723 George Lockhart Letters (1989) 189:
My oversman was proposing lately that I shoud work that peice of coall, but after having considered it, I find the expences necessary for getting at it will render it scarce worth the pains, ... Cai. 1784 A. Wight Present State Husbandry IV. 361:
The grieve or oversman told me he had attempted summer-fallow.

Specif. (1) an inspector of work in a craft incorporation. Hence oversmanship, the job of such. Cf. 1725 quot. under 2.Gsw. 1725 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 240:
The said oversman after he is elected shall have liberty to make choice of two of their number to be his masters of craft. . . . Obliged ilk week during his oversmanship to go throw, search and try the haill cordeners work made within the said village.Gsw. 1740 Records Trades Ho. (Lumsden 1934) 265:
The petition of John Muirhead oversman of the wrights in Gorballs for himself and others of the trade.

(2) an overseer or inspector in a coalmine (m.Sc. 1964).Rnf. 1713 W. Grossart Shotts (1880) 240:
An oversman had one hundred pounds . . . The redder of the heugh had a firlot of meal and ane pound of candle in the week.Fif. 1725 Hist. MSS. Comm. X. App. I. 154:
A great deal depends upon the honestie of an oursman.Lth. c.1770 D. Bremner Industries (1869) 21:
Exactly a century ago the wages paid to the men, all serfs, who worked at Newbattle Colliery, were as follows: — Grieve, 7s. a-week; oversman, 10s; banksman, 6s 7d.em.Sc. 1842 Children in Mines Report II. 435:
The duty of the above-ground oversman is to watch over the transactions and business done at the pit's mouth. In most cases acts as coal-grieve or clerk.Lnl. 1864 St. Andrews Gazette (13 Feb.):
About 7.30 a.m. the hoursman of the pit inspected the compartment where deceased and a younger brother of his own were working, and directed the former to prop up a large stone in the roof.e.Lth. 1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 73:
If there's any honour gained, that will be accredited to the owresman and the manager.Ayr. 1957 Scotsman (21 Nov.):
James Marshall . . . who as oversman on the back-shift of 169 men, dashed to warn men in adjoining sections of their danger.

2. A person appointed as an arbitrator in a dispute, a neutral member of an arbitration committee, to whom the final decision may be referred, a thirdsman (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Mry., Bnff., Per., wm. and sm.Sc. 1964).Sc. 1708 Invercauld Rec. (S.C.) 83:
He . . . gives pour to them to choos ane oversman for cognossing of the said Duncan titells and valedity of his Daitt.Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings I. 108:
In case of Variance 'twixt the said Auditors, the Lord Chancellor is to be Oversman.Gsw. 1725 R. D. McEwan Old Gsw. Weavers (1905) 109:
Which overisman and assessoris shall have power to judge in all matteris betwixt brother and brother relating to the calling allennerly.Ayr. 1748 Munim. Irvine (1891) 138:
The said Bridge is to be visited by William Fullartoun of Fullartoun Esquire as umpire or oversman who is hereby appointed to determine the condition of said Bridge.Bwk. 1809 R. Kerr Agric. Bwk. 491:
To cause the parties each to name an arbitrator, while the sheriff names a third, or oversman, in case the two nominees should disagree.Arg. 1878 Trans. Highl. Soc. 19:
The settlement necessarily falls to the thirdsman or oversman.Sc. 1955 Scotsman (26 Jan.) 11:
When two arbiters are appointed to determine a disputed question and no provision is made for an oversman.