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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Herschip, Hir-, Hairschip, n. Also: -(s)chip(e, -schype, -schape, herrship; hirscheip, -schep, hyrschip, -schop; hare-, hayr-, hars(c)hip, -scheip, -schep and Herdship. [Var. of Hereschip n.]

1. = Hereschip 1.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 3852.
Wyth that herschype swa he thowcht … That that assege suld skalyd be Ib. 6057.
Syne in till Ingland past the Kyng Off were, and a gret herschipe made 1491 Lennox Mun. 143.
For herschipis, spolȝeis or skathis done be owdyr of the parteis … till othiris c1515 Asl. MS. I. 220/16.
Thair was ane richt gret herschipe maid in Fyff 1501 Red Bk. Menteith II. 305.
[They] sal thoil na herschippis cum nor gang throw thaim nor thar boundis 1572 Grant Chart. 151.
All … herschippis … that mycht chans vpone ony off the saidis parteis 1622-6 Bisset I. 31/13.
Thevis, revaris, and oppressouris, speciallie thame that maid herschipis, war execute(b) 1550 Treas. Acc. IX. 428.
To Alexander Maknach … to his support efter his hairscheppis with the Inglismen and thevis 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II. 484.
Besyde the foirnamit greit harschippis, … they haue committit mony greit and odius slauchteris 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 129.
All wther slauchteris, muirtheris, hairschippis, theiftis, reiffis, … committit be thame 1667 Justiciary Rec. I. 198.
When the said Lauchlan … did committ the hairship against John Lyon of Muresk 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xix. 10.
How hareschips … is punished

2. = Hereschip 2.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 2426.
In till oure land he dyd gret skayth in slawchtyr, and in herschype bath 1467 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 403.
That thai sall nevir ane of thaim … cum na gang to mak herschyp … one the tother c1475 Wall. viii. 942.
On Inglismen full gret herschipe thai maid 1558-66 Knox I. 85.
Fvre ryses, herschip mycht have bein sein on everie syd c 1593 Misc. Spald. C. I. 5.
Eftir thai haid promisit … , thay brak thrys in ten dayis baith in murther and herchip 1604 Crim. Trials II. 435.
He causit M^cClaine [etc.] … committ herschip and slauchter in my roum of Rennoche 1670 Soc. Ant. XXX. 21.
In cais of herschipe, so that the gear he destroyed, they are not to be anserable(b) 1494 Bk. Carlaverock II. 449.
For the … brynning and hirscheip and sprethe of gudis c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 630.
Ȝe sall be plagit … With hirschip, fyre, … and pestelence a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. ci. 6.
Grit ewill in to this land we se As slauchtir, hirschep, thift, and reiff 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 125.
The thevis of Liddildaill maid greit hirschip on the puir laubouraris of the ground(c) 1549 Compl. 5/23.
Vitht-out domage, slauchtir, or hayrschip to be amang the pepil Ib. 23/3.
Spulȝee ande hairschip of ther mouabil gudis c 1565 Lennox Mun. 265.
My Lord Argyllis armye is to cum vpon the cuntre for harschip tharof 1626 Garden Worthies 104.
There was much blood, huge fyre & harship strange c1650 Spalding I. 22.
Wnder haserd of thair lives and hairschip of thair goodis

3. = Hereschip 3. 1649 Reay P. MS. (Reg. H.).
Certane spraites and hershipes war takine 1667 Highland P. II. 41.
Angus … took a hership of cowes away and putt some women and children to the sword

4. = Hereschip 4. 1698 Misc. 3 Spald. C. II. 100.
[To] refound ... their herrships & skaithes

5. = Hereschip 5.(a) 1469 Acts II. 96/1.
To eschow the gret herschip and distructions of the kingis commonis … throw the force of the brefe of distres 1546 Elgin Rec. I. 88.
Vnfremen of the said craft … occupeit thair fredome to thair vtter herschip 1551 Hamilton Cat. (1884) ii.
Takaris of ouir mekil mail or farme to the herschipe of the tenentis 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 104.
Committand thairthrow oppin and manifest reif to our wttir wrak and herschape(b) 1546 Corr. M. Lorraine 162.
That ye will nocht gif ane absolutioun without I be satisfiit, for and ye do, ye will put me to uter hirschip 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 109.
Bryngand thame to pouertie, To hounger, hirscheip, and rewyne(c) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 8.
Wastand their lands … with multitude of scheip … , thereby trubland Gods people with skarsnes, povertie, and outer hairschip c1650 Spalding II. 341.
Throw the countrie thay went plundering … to the wrak and hairschip of the land