Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thanksgeving, -gewing, -giv(e)ing, n. Also: thankisgevin(g, -geifing, -giv(e)ing, thanksegiveing. [e.m.E. thankes giuyng (Tindale), thanks-giuing (Shakespeare).] The giving of thanks to God, esp. its public or ceremonial expression in, e.g., a day of thanksgeving. Also attrib. 1562-3 Winȝet I 29/3.
Sic ȝeirlie memorial in blythnes and thankisgeifing wes haldin for the delyuerance of thair bodeis 1562-3 Winȝet I 32/23.
Reid in the cxvii psalme quhare the Spirit of God commandis the kirk in blithnes and thankisgeuing, for hir redemptioun be Christ 1562-3 Winȝet I 129/5.
We ar … techit nocht only afoir and eftir mete to thanksgeuing, but to the feruencie of prayar 1558-66 Knox II 391.
That forme of prayer which ordinarlie he sayeth after thankis-giving at his table 1600 Crim. Trials II 240.
To keip thair Provinciall Assembleis, the thrid day of September nixt, for publict thankis-gevin for his majesteis preservatioun 1616–17 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 97.
Thanksgiving 1623 Elgin Rec. II 179.
That Tuysday nixt … be keepted as a day of thanksgiving for his maiesteis delyverance 1641 Acts V 722/1.
His maiesties esteatis … ordaines thame to appoynt ane day of thanksgewing 1641 Dundonald Par. Rec. 498.
Symount Wricht … confessed absence from the Church on the day of publict thanksegiveing for the Lords favours showen to the land 1673 Moray Synod 157.
By disregarding the keeping 29 of May … as a day of thanksgivingattrib. 1664 S. Ronaldshay 45.
The minister went to the Isle of Burray quhair the thanksgiving sermone was also keeped 1699 Inverness Kirk S. 53.
Thanksgiving sermons were also preached … for the seasonableness of the harvest and ingathering of the cornes

b. An act or expression of thanks, esp. one taking the form of a religious service. 1616–17 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 98.
Let be sung the first two verses of the 106 psalme, contening a thanksgeving and prayer 1630 Linlithgow B. Rec. 4 June.
To the drummer that plaid the day of the thankis giving for the birth of the prince xxix s. 1647 Boharm Kirk S. 8 Aug.
This day the thanksgiving was keepit for the prosperous success of our armies 1649 Lamont Diary 5.
Ther was a publike thanksgiuing … keippet through out all the kirks of this kingdome c1650 Spalding I 239.
The staitis generall haue thocht fit to apoint a solempne thankis giveing to the Lord aganist the nynt of November nixt 1666 Boharm Kirk S. 6 Sept.
Ane thanksgiving for a happie victorie over the Dutches 1676 Alford Rec. 265.
A day of solemne thanksgiving to God, for his wonderfull mercies in the by past season, and withall to creave his blessing on the ensueing harvest 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 558.
Jasper Kellie … and Mr. William Weymes … did … not only nether read nor causs publish the samen or prayed for King William … or observe the said thanksgiveing, but on the contirary did pray most fervently for the late King James 1690 Dunkeld Presb. II 438.
Mr. Patrick did not keep the fast daies nor thanksgiveings, nor read the proclamationes thereanent