A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1474-1669
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Cuning, Cunning, n. Also: cunyng, cwning, -yng; cunnynge, cunnin; qwneing. [Variant of Coning n. Cf. early ME. cunin, cunig.] A rabbit.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 906 (H).
The mertrik, with the cuning and the con 1482 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 45.
Of the hundreth skynnis, wollin, calffis, gaitis, hyddis, cunyngis, or ony vtheris 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 405/2.
The Isle of Litill Comeray, [and] the dere, cunyngis and wild bestis being thairin 1533 Boece iii. xii. 109.
The ilis aboundit … in schepe, nolt, hors … cwnyngis [etc.] 1539 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 93.
That thai sell thair best cunings for iiij s., and the secundare efferand to thair gudenes a1540 Freiris Berwik 377.
Ane pair of cunyngis, fat and het pypand 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 209.
Four henis to thair disjone … Item ane kippill of cunyngis a1578 Pitsc. I. 337/4.
Thair was … cuning, cran, suan, … pertrick and plever 1596 Dalr. I. 20/30.
I speik nocht heir of this commone sorte [of dogs] that huntes the cuning and the hair 1606 Acts IV. 296/1.
For the saidis lynx of Eistbarnis, auchtscoir cupillis of cunynges 1607 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 165.
Thrie pet cwningis, at xvi s. the pice 1607 Ib. 167.
Item, vi pair cwningis(b) 1474 Acts II. 107/2.
That na man … tak out cunnyngis out of wtheris cunnyngarthis a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 207.
Of capounis and cunningis they had plentie 1497 Treasurer's Accounts I. 326.
To a man that brocht cunningis to the King 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 107.
Thair wilbe our mony cunningis within twa yeir; thai haue riddillit all the erdis of the Linkis richt weille 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxviii.
Mony othir ilis ar in this firth, full of cunningis 1547 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 126.
Raisand all wyld mete, capounis, cunnyngis, hennis and sic stufe … to ane sic exhorbitand derth 1567 Acts Jas. VI (1597) 12 b.
That na maner of person … suld schut … at da, ra, hart, hynde, hair, cunning [etc.] 1586 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 213.
All maner of customes of … cunningis, calfes, otteris and foumart skynnis 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. x.
Thair wes the … cunning and the con … Merchen amangs the rest 1632 Ritchie Churches St. Baldred 237.
Iames Robesune … accusit for prophaining the Sabbothe be taking and chasing of cunnings, … answeirit he slew bot one cunning 1669 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
To be haldlin … in howsis … coallis, coallhewches, cunningis, cuningheares [etc.](c)1595 Exchequer Rolls XXIII 24.
Summa of the dischairge of qwneingis, 182 pair attrib. 1551–2 Treasurer's Accounts X. 68.
For ane wombill to boyre cunnyng holis with
