Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1881-1916
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SEEFER, n. Also sief(f)er, seiffer, siepher. A good-for-nothing worthless person, an impudent empty-headed fellow (Fif., sm.Sc. 1904 E.D.D.; Kcb., Rxb. 1969), sometimes playfully applied to children, a wee rascal.Gall. 1881 J. K. Scott Gall. Gleanings 101:
Whaur can he be, the siefer, paidlin'?Lnk. 1887 A. Wardrop Mid-Cauther Fair 203:
The silly auld seefer.Slk. 1894 Scotsman (26 July 1954):
Sixty years ago in Ettrick valley we used the expression, “Ye wee seefer”.Kcb. 1911 Crockett Rose of the Wilderness vi.:
The clerks in the office, whom she called “snifflin' seefers” on the street.s.Sc. 1916 M. MacLean Songs 15:
Haud aff your fingers frae the pat — ye seiffer bide a wee!
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"Seefer n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/seefer>
