Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a generic term for a Scotsman, thus as term of address; cite 1812 suggests a Scottish woman.

1667		J. Lacey Sauny the Scot II i: Gude Sauny might hang himsel an it were not for Scratting and Scrubbing.
1682		Mennis & Smith et al. ‘Sawnies Neglect’ Wit and Drollery 321: Sawney will nere be my Love again [...] I let him angle in my Fish-Pond, / But Sawney will nere be my love again.
c.1687		‘Mac O Bonniclabbero of Drogheda’ Bog Witticisms LIV 50: Teague and Sauney travelling together from Chester to London, lay in the same Bed upon the Road.
1690		‘Teague’ Teagueland Jests I 96: [as previous].
1700		‘The National Quarrel’ in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy II 232: Shone a Welch Runt and Hans a Dutch Boor, / As they one Ev’ning for Air did employ; Found Teague and Sawney just walking before.
1709		N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 49: The Bear [...] put himself, of a sudden, into a terrible Posture, as if he was just going to seize the Scotchman as a Prey; at the sight of which, away ran Sawny.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy II 77: Shone a Welch Runt and Hans a Dutch Boor, / [...] / Found Teague and Sawney walking just before.
1725		N. Ward Amorous Bugbears 11: The Sawnies and Jockies of North-Britain, would have swore, by the Complexion of his Masque [...] that he had fed on nothing but Bonny-clapper.
1728		J. Ralph Sawney 7: Neither Sawney’s Craft, Nor Gran--lle’s Name, can save the apish Toil.
1739		‘The Fortunate Scotchman’ in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) I 77: Sawny, Sawny, whither away?
1748		Smollett Roderick Random (1979) 63: The wit [...] asked, ‘What he got in his knapsack?’ Is it oatmeal or brimstone, Sawney? (said he).
1754		E. Burt Letters from Scotland I 164: ‘Aye,’ says Sawny, who it seems was a Lover of Ale, ‘’tis true; but the De’el tak him that has the least Pint Stoup’.
1765		H. Howard Choice Spirits Museum 97: While England is weigh’d in a Scotch Pair of Scales, And Sawney keeps snug in the Middle of Wales.
1772		Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 138: A queer look’d whelp, called sawney dunn; His men from Caledonia came.
1781		Hicky’s Bengal Gaz. 2-9 June n.p.: Sawney Mac Fargus and other Asiatic [...] knowing ones.
1781		song in Bullfinch 115: Upon the ground hard by poor Sawney sate.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Sawny or sandy. A general nick-name for a Scotchman, as Paddy is for an Irishman, or Taffy for a Welchman; Sawny or Sandy being the familiar abbreviation or diminution of Alexander, a very favourite name among the Scottish nation.
1798		‘Irish Extravagance & Scotch Œconomy’ in Hilaria 119: An Irishman and Scottishman. / Both full of fun and brogue, / Sly Sawney — for a saving plan, / Big Pat — a spending rogue.
1812		J. Bell Jr. (ed.) Rhymes of Northern Bards 184: Poor Sawney, as canny a North British hallion [...] married a Scottish tarpaulin.
1822		(con. early 17C) W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel I 40: Jockey [...] a name which at that time was used, as Sawney now is, for a general appellative of the Scottish nation.
1826		T. Moore in Times 14 Apr. 3: But cheer up John, Sawney, and Paddy, / The King is your father they say.
1838		J. Grant Sketches in London 207: Sawney held his head down, and muttered something.
1848		Sinks of London Laid Open 74: A Scotch sailor [...] unloosed her hold, and let her escape. But Sawney had, at this time at least reckoned without his host.
c.1850		Peeping Tom (London) 32 128/2: A raw Scotchman [...] that singularly conceited and ignorant Sawney.
1853		R.S. Surtees Mr Sponge’s Sporting Tour 238: M'Quirter, we need hardly say, was a Scotsman—a big, broad-shouldered Sawney.
1859		Colonist (Aus.) 29 Mar. 4/6: ‘Indeed!’ exclaimed Jonathan, with an air of supercilious scepticism' ‘and pray what kind of concern may it be?’ ‘Why, man,’ replied Sawney, ‘it’s a peacock wi’ a wooden leg!’.
1866		H.L. Williams N.-Y. After Dark 88: He would laugh at the idea of all Great Britain being styled Sawnees or Cockneys.
1877		Laughing Songster 28: [song title] Sawney Grant’s Adventures in Glasgow.
1880		Henley & Stevenson Deacon Brodie I tab.II i: Jock runs east, and Sawney cuts west; everything’s at a deadlock.
1886		‘’Arry on ’Ome Rule’ Punch 17 July in P. Marks (2006) 122: The Sawnies and Tykes may be nicked by his bosh.
1892		Broadford Courier (Vic.) 6 May 2/7: Sawney and pat — A Scotchman and an Irishman were sleeping at an inn together.
1902		Horsham Times (Vic.) 28 Feb. 1s/8: ‘I’m pleased ye think sae,’ answered Sawney.
1915		Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) 15 May 2/7: An Irishman is called Paddy [...] a Scotchman Sawney or Sandy.
1951		Advertiser (Adelaide) 14 Apr. 7/2: Old Sawney Nock, who lives in the scrub.
1989		H. Rawson Dict. of Invective (1991) 280: Sawney, a Scotsman and also a fool.

2. (US) as a generic name for an African-American man.

1735		Ipswich Jrnl 21 June 3/1-2: Sawney, a Negro Boy of the Captain’s [...] Sawney, the Portuguese Black, and the Mulatto boy, were Acquiited.
1855		Eve. Star (Wash., DC) 14 Dec. 1/5: ‘in’t you lost, Sawney?’ [...] ‘Yes massa Ben. Dis nigger is lost sure’.