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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Flyting, Flytting, vbl. n. Also: flytyng, -eing, -eng, fliting, -yng, flitting. [ME. flityng, fliteing, fliting (c 1200), f. Flyte v.]

1. The action of quarrelling, scolding, or employing abusive language.(a) ?1438 Alex. i. 2436.
Manance nor flyting was thair nane a1487 Gud Wife & D. 118.
A woman suld … Oys nouthir flyting, sturt, no striff c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 18.
Flyting to ws richt gritlie I eschame 1533 Boece ii. xii. 82 b.
The twa bredir … , be fowsum flytingis lichtlying vtheris, frustrate of thare intent departit 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 290.
My lordis … effter greitt flytyng maid hym contentit 1596 Dalr. I. 129/8.
Eftir vnfreindlie flyteng, baith the parties war steiret vp to fechteng 1600-1610 Melvill 718.
The great Bisschope kendelit … in a raige of foull flyting 1641 Baillie I. 390.
There fell a verie foule flyting betwixt the two 1669 Ayr & W. Coll. IV. 86.
In reguaird of ther inchristian cariage in flyting and scolding, banning and swearing(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 23.
To gar me ryme, and rais the feynd with flytting 1536 Dysart Rec. 4.
Margaret Weems … was called for the flytting that she made in the Kirk 1596 Elgin Rec. I. 42.
Issobell and Margaret Tailȝeour … to do thair repentance on Sonday nixt for thair publict flytting … on the calsay 1649 Cupar Presb. 131.
After her flytting with the said Helen she fell sicke c 1675 Bk. Pasquils 226.
Now they haue found out a new way of flytting, Which they doe call sollicitatione(c) c1460 Thewis Gud Women 79.
Oys noght flityng sturt, na stryf 1533 Boece x. xvii. 399.
To thame the Murrayis first be flitingis and fensible wapynnys resistit 1561 Inverness B. Rec. i. 59.
Johne Morison is … jugit in amerciament … for his … false saingis and fliting in commond he get [= hie gate] 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. ii. 20.
Thus did he perorat his fliting, As at Tarantums spiders biting

b. A contest between poets in mutual abuse. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. Title.
The flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie heir eftir followis a1585 Polwart Flyt. heading (T).
The first flytting in forme of reply to Alex. Montgomereis first flytting 1585 James VI Ess. 62.
In flyting and inuectiues, ȝour wordis to be cuttit short Ib. 68.
For flyting or inuectiues, vse … rouncefallis, or tumbling verse

2. Flyting-free, free from blame. 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. vi. 8.
If we walke the land abroad we will finde many folke not flyting free in it 1614 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 424.
Monie of ws abuses mens wyfes, bot I thank God for it, I am flyting frie 1637 Rutherford (1862) I. 436.
Christ … in that is flyting-free with sinners