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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)hawing, Schewing, S(c)howing, vbl. n. Also: s(c)hawinge, -ynge, -in(e, -yn; schauyng, -yn(e; schewinge, -ynge. [ME and e.m.E. scheauwing (Ancr. R.), scheuing (Cursor M.), schauing (c1325), scheweing (c1330), mod. Eng. showing (19th c.), OE scéawung, -ing; S(c)haw v.]

1. The action of allowing, or causing, something to be seen, in various senses of S(c)haw v. II. a. Exposure, presentation, demonstration (of a person or thing) to view; ? drawing (of weapons). 1375 Barb. xvi 95.
The Scottis ost raid by thaim ner Bot thai na schawing of thaim maid a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 36.
Hou Constantyne had ourcumyne Of that takine [sc. the Cross] be the schewynge a1500 Sir Eger 1071.
He hath made a fair showing 1545 Douglas Corr. 158.
At the schowing off the imbassadors commission … to ȝour magestes leuctenent 1556 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXI 307.
Becaus ther was na schawing of wappinis nor straikis betuix the said Patrik and Jonet nor blude drawing 1662 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 299.
Libertie to [blank] mountebanks to sett up a stage … for showing of his skill in physick

b. The producing of a document for inspection by the appropriate authority. Cf. S(c)haw v. 4. 1436 Coll. Aberd. & B. 394.
For the defaute of schauyne of thar charteris 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 57.
Tueching the shawin and production of the charteris and evidentis thairof 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 141.
In … Aprile last [he] wes departit furth of the said watter … without custum or schawing of cocquet 1622-6 Bisset I 137/24.
Summonis upoun the ground … is used in perambulationis, comprysingis of landis, schawing of haldingis, and sic uther actionis

c. The working of a miracle or the like. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 856.
And thru schauyng of merwalis sere Ib. xl 222.
& ay confermyt his prechyng Be wondire werkis the schawine

d. ? The performance, or carrying out, of an exploit of arms. Cf. c above, also late ME shewe = to perform openly a feat or exploit (Caxton). 1533 Boece 375.
Nochttheles thai made na schawing of were vnto the tyme thare affaris was dressit … and new pece … war confermyt

e. The act of producing one's arms, weapons, etc. for inspection. Cf. a above, also S(c)haw v. 2 c and wapins(c)haw. 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 23.
All nychtburis … to be abbulyeit for wer … to geiff thair moustaris and schawin thairoff in the boig befor the balyeis 1540 Acts II 363/1.
At thai mak thar schawingis & monstouris with sic harnes … as thai haif

2. The action of making known by verbal communication, in various senses of S(c)haw v. V. a. Expounding (of a matter); revealing, making known. 1438–9 Rec. Earld. Orkney 71.
Testifeis sekyir witnessis and for the schawing of suthfastnes til yowr universite makis kende that [etc.] 1568 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lviii.
That your proclamations and schawing heirof be in sic sort … that thair may be na witnessing that the same cumis of me

b. Revelation; a particular revelation.Also, enlightenment (of someone) by revelation.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 570.
Of nane had he techinge, Bot of Jhesu throw his schewinge Ib. v 468.
Thru spyryt that hym the schauyn mad Ib. xiii 49.
Threw the schewynge Of the ewangele Ib. xxxvi 655.
For Gabriel mad playne schawinge Til his faddir of his [sc. John's] getting Ib. xl 328.
Bot the bischope wist in haste, Be schewing of the haly gaste, That innocent the prest wes(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke ii 32.
Licht to the schawing of hethinmen and glorie of thi pepile Israel

c. The action of foretelling. Cf. b above and S(c)haw v. 18 f. 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 231.
Convict for schawing be hir wichecraft to ane pure woman … that gif he levit over Weddinsday that he wald nocht die of that maladie

d. A demonstration or proof. Cf. S(c)haw v. 25. ?1438 Alex. i 2489.
I sall thame mak sic ane shawing That I am he to quhome the king Hes geuin hallely his oist to leid a1500 MS Rawl. Q. b. 4 fol. 2b.
Quhen the gift of knawing Has maid him sic a schawing That he may knaw his wickitnes … than [etc.]

e. An account (of an event). Cf. S(c)haw v. 20. 1560 Rolland Seven S. Schort Schawing title.
Ane schort schawing quhair and quhen, and at quhais requeist this buik was translatit out of prois in Scottis meter

f. ? A written entry. 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 19a.
The clarkis schawine is for my entreis xi s. 8 d.

3. The displaying (of a quality) to another person by one's actions. Cf. S(c)haw v. 16. 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary I 42.
And in schewing ȝou all the plessour and guid-will that we can

4. (One's) appearance, countenance.Cf. the Sir Eger quot. in 1 a. a1400 Leg. S. xvii 9.
& God til hyre had tent sic grace Of speche & of far schawynge c1400 Troy-bk. i 356.
With suete and fare schawing

5. A spectacle. 1521 in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xciii.
Ilkane of thame cumand thar four moneth quhilkis in maner cumis for a schawing or a sycht