or sawny, subs. (old).—1. A lout: see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD (B. E.). As adj. = stupid.
1567. EDWARDS, Damon and Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), iv. 74] [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 566. A servant speaks French to astonish a friend, and calls him petit ZAWNE (zany or sawny)].
1871. E. WOOD, Dene Hollow, viii. That wench Pris … she’s a regular SAWNEY, though, in some things.
1873. BROUGHTON, Nancy, vii. The bronze of his face is a little paled by emotion, but there is no SAWNY sentiment in his tone, none of the lover’s whine.
2. (Scots’).—A Scot; SANDY (q.v.).—B. E., GROSE.
d. 1704. T. BROWN, The Highlander [Works, i. 127].
| And learn from him against a time of need, | |
| To husband wealth as SAWNY does his weed. |
1714. GAY, The Shepherd’s Week, Sat., l. 115. He sung of ‘Taffey Welch,’ and ‘SAWNEY Scot.’
1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, xiii. [Addressing a Scotchman] ‘Is it oatmeal or brimstone, SAWNEY?’ said he.
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 138.
| A queer look’d whelp, call’d SAWNEY Dunn; | |
| His men from Caledonia came. | |
| Ibid., 200. | |
| As firm as SAWNEY’S rubbing post. |
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ii. Jockey … a name which at that time was used, as SAWNEY now is, for a general appellative of the Scottish nation.
1892. W. E. HENLEY and R. L. STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Tabl. II. ii. Jock runs east, and SAWNEY cuts west.
3. (common).—Bacon; also stolen cheese; hence, SAWNEY-HUNTER = a bacon thief: Fr. spec.—GROSE, VAUX.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 275. Of very ready sale “fish got from the gate” (stolen from Billingsgate; SAWNEY (thieved bacon). Ibid., The Great World of London (1856), 46. SAWNEY-HUNTERS, who purloin cheese or bacon from cheesemongers’ doors.
