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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.

Ding, Dyng, v. Also: dinge, dynge. P.t. dang(e, dayng. P.p. dungin(e, -yn(e, dwngyn; doungin, doung-, downgyne; dongin, dongyne, -yng; dung(e, dwng, doung, dong. [Northern ME. ding(e, dyng(e (c 1300), ON. dengja.]

I. 1. tr. To beat or strike with heavy blows.(a) a1400 Leg. S. iv. 234.
Abyathar thane … With stanys gert men his mouth dinge 1456 Hay I. 154/34.
And I defend me sa agayne that thef that I dyng him wele 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 119.
That na furrouris … steip thair skynis in forehous … nor yitt ding thame on the hiegaitt 1531 Bell. Boece I. 18.
Ane reid lioun … awfully dingand his bak 1540 Acts II. 376/1.
Siclik of thame [drawaris of claith] outwith burgh dingand … or flaland claith 1557 Peebles B. Rec. 238.
[If] the saidis keparis … ding the saidis stirkis quhairthrow thai incur ony skaith 1567 Sat. P. viii. 45.
Men may nocht ding all doggis that barkis a1578 Pitsc. I. 198/2.
Quhen I … wald ding my brother and wald craib hir, scho wald ding me 1587-99 Hume iii. 159.
The cock … With claps of ioy his breast he dings 1609 St. A. Baxter Bks. 74.
Gif … the said Dauid sall stryk or dyng ony frieman or brother of the craft 1642 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 292.
David Philp … convict … for dinging and striking Issobell Thomsonfig. 1581 Sat. P. xliv. 340.
Ȝour treason strang ȝour fyrie breist sall ding(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 351.
Thane dang scho hyr-self in the face Ib. xxxi. 367.
Scho … dayng hyr-self mouth & nesse c1420 Wynt. vii. 2746.
Thai band hym, dang hym. and wowndyt sare ?1438 Alex. i. 1122.
Emynedus … dang the folk sa rigorously … That … thai left the place 1498 Acta Conc. II. 152.
That Wilȝeam Forbas … cruelly dang and strak him and spulȝeit him of x s. c1500 Crying of Play 34.
My foregrantschir … That dang the devill and gart him ȝowle 1531 Bell. Boece II. 98.
Otheris alliegis thay dang him with skait rumpillis c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 2.
Eolus … baith herb and tre he dang 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 578.
Thay … straik and dang David for execution of the saidis lettres 1579 Ib. III. 208.
He hes dung the complineris with battons and dang them with his nevis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 89.
Thow … enterit wpon the said Iohn, dang and beft him 1612 Crim. Trials III. 243.
He … beft and dang him in the heid … and sydis 1624 Urie Baron Ct. 53.
Androw Lesly … confest that his sone … strak and dang John Fergussone(c) ?1438 Alex. i. 2721.
War nocht the duke now doungin sa 1456 Hay I. 155/16.
Efter that I had tane his gere and dongin him 1567 Inverness B. Rec. I. 146.
The said Ewin … straike at me wyth ane say sting eftyr he had dingyn [sic] my son(b) 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 121.
Quhou he was dung and beft intill hys sleip 1533 Boece iv. iv. 130 b.
His lady Voada bett & dung, his dochteris deflorit 1549 Compl. 123/6.
I am dung and broddit to gar me do … the thing that is abuif my pouer 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 77.
He … send certane of his servandis to Leith to have dwng the said Henry with a batton a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxx. 2.
The beatin bark … dunge with wavering wind 1603 Moysie 13.
The drum wes brokin, and the drummer evill dung 1619 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 361.
Hir vnlaw modifiet to ten pundis … and fywe merkis to the pairtie dung 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 136.
He was ever cumerit with ȝow and thocht to haue dung ȝow(c) 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xi.
[The] stanis … ringis, quhen thay ar doung, as ane bell 1572 Sat. P. xxxii. 25.
Our hors is reft; our selfis ar doung 1589 Maxwell Mem. II. 166.
My men … was maist crwellie doung and hurtt 1611-57 Mure Dido i. 452.
Those swanns … Doung by ane eagle in the skies of late

b. To ding to dede (or to the deith), to kill by blows or strokes. Also with dede adj. 1375 Barb. x. 618.
Till ded with stanys thai suld thaim dyng c1420 Wynt. i. 208.
He dang him with his bow to dede ?1438 Alex. i. 1119.
Thai of Gaderis … to dede had him doungin thus c1450-2 Howlat 65.
Sum will me dulfully dicht, Sum dyng me to deid c1475 Wall. vii. 485.
Feill frekis thar thai feris dang to dede ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 166.
At Myttoun … Quhair twentie hundreth war dungin to deid 1535 Stewart 27376.
Richt doggitlie thay dang thame all to deid 1562-3 Winȝet II. 6/22.
An instrument of sik pissance … that with ane straik it sal ding a faa deid 1646 Baillie II. 405.
Ding his bussiness dead so soon as yow are able

c. To beat with a rod or scourge as a punishment; to flog or lash.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 193.
Thane gert he hyme with schurgis ding Ib. xlv. 111.
Se hou al there are very, That dyngis me 1456 Hay I. 68/16.
Thai could nocht fynd in thair hertis to dyng na chasty thair barnis a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 327.
With ane hauthorne skurge thy self and dyng 1535 Stewart 57081.
We sall nim teiche … To ding his barnis as he wes wont with wandis In to the scule 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. ii.
Nor ȝit sal it be leful to the said pedagogis to ding thair disciples 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xviii. 32.
So should kirk-pastors now ding it with the discipline rod(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 44.
Thai … sone tuk Andrew, … & bittirly with schurgis dange Ib. xxxvii. 196.
Til thai that dang hyme wery ware 1456 Hay II. 151/1.
The fader and the moder wald have lerit him thair craft and dang him oft rycht sare thareto(c) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 10.
With wandis sar He wes firste doungyne Ib. xix. 547.
With yrne schorgis than gert he … hyme downgyne be Ib. xxxviii. 42.
The king … gert thame dungyne be but bad 14.. Acts I. 53/2.
The theyff aw to be weil dungyn or his er to be schorn 1456 Hay I. 243/19.
Quhasa brekis trewis or pes suld be dungyn nakit throu the toune 1503 Acts II. 251/1.
Thar faderis … sal … deliuer the said child to the iuge to be leschit, scurgit, and dungin 1535 Stewart 37906.
To greit als fast … As ony barnis that war dung with wandis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 200.
The apostillis … quhen thai war dung for preching of the evangil 1603 Philotus xc.
I wald be laith to wit hir dung

d. To overcome by force of blows; to assail with violence. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxviii. 9.
Dungin is the deidly dragon Lucifer 1533 Bell. Livy I. 86/12.
Thai dang and sloppit the Sabynis legiouns Ib. II. 79/19.
The garnisoun that was laid … to ding the Romane tentis in tyme of batall 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 38.
Syne at the sege of Leith scho … dang the Frenchmen Ib. 360.
He … thair gyantis dang 1596 Dalr. I. 192/11.
The Pechtes [being] dung and chaste, the Scottis obteinit the first victorie 1626 Garden Worthies 47.
The Donaldens … dung be the barrons in that warr c1650 Spalding I. 22.
The Erll … in end resolues gar ane devill dyng another

e. To batter or beat down with shot. 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 249.
All nycht our greit artallȝery lawborit, and has dong the tolbutht 1558-66 Knox I. 204.
A galay … was so doung with the cannoun and othir ordinance, that she was … almost drowned 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 182.
The said earle … send to Striueling for amunitioun to ding the same [places] with Ib. 251.
The said artailȝerie … quhairwith thaj dung Adam Fullartouns hous and platforme maid thairvpone all this day 1622 Melrose P. 458.
To ding them so long as they sould be within shot

2. intr. To deal blows. Freq. with on adv. 1375 Barb. xv. 60.
The Scottis men dang on so fast … As ilk man war a campioun ?1438 Alex. i. 1060.
Areste … with his sword about him dang Ib. ii. 1677.
Thair dang he on, bare doun and beft c1475 Wall. x. 401.
As wytlace wy in to the ost he went, Dingand on hard a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 711.
With daggaris derfly thay dang 1535 Stewart 6682. Ib. 36915.
Tha dang dourlie with mon ydoggit dynt

b. Const. on, upon, or at (a person or thing). 1375 Barb. v. 367.
Than dang thai on thame sa hardely Ib. xv. 480.
Thair mycht men heir … men dyng apon othir fast a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 625.
Thane on myn brest fast I dang Ib. 939.
Dyngand on myn breste ?1438 Alex. i. 1123.
The folk … That vpone him thair dingand was c1475 Wall. i. 411.
On athir side full fast on him thai dange c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 109.
The fowlis all at the fedrem dang, As at a monster thame amang 1535 Stewart 8543.
With swordis scharpe … Vpone the Romanis dourlie thar thai dang 1538 Lynd. Justing 58.
With gluifis of plait thay dang at vtheris facis a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi. 27.
Blaw up ȝour trumpatis and on ȝour drummis ding 1615 Crim. Trials III. i. 276.
[They] dang at his hall dur with ane garroun

c. Of wind, hail, or rain: To beat or fall with violence. 1513 Doug. i. iii. 16.
A blastrand bub … Gan our the forschip in the bak saill dyng Ib. ix. xi. 16.
Als thik as the hail schour hoppys and dyngis In furdys schald c1552 Lynd. Mon. 135.
The holsum herbis … Quhare on the dulce and balmy dew down dang Ib. 1422.
Frome the heuin the rane doun dang c1650 Spalding I. 81.
Thair fell out in Morray ane cruell weit dynging on nicht and day

3. tr. To deal (blows) with force. 1375 Barb. ii. 356.
The worthiest … rowtis ruyd about thaim dang c1590 J. Stewart 31/58.
The knycht of Clairmont … On Sacripant ane ackwart dint did ding

4. To pierce with a violent thrust. 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 5.
To bring thar caldrone or kettellis to the cros and ding thame throw with ane puncione 1531 Bell. Boece II. 112.
He was doung throw the heid be ane ganye, quhare his face was bair Ib. 123.
Scho … dang hir self with ane dager to the hert

II. 5. To drive, impel, or dash with violence. Usu. with preps., esp. to (the earth, etc.). a1400 Leg. S. iii. 215.
The iuge … tuk Andro, quhare he stud, And dange hym in a dongeone depe Ib. xxix. 436.
He … dang his handis on his face ?1438 Alex. i. 1373.
Thir tua … Socht on thair fais sa sturdely, Quhill to thair baneris thay thame dang c1475 Wall. viii. 800.
Thai … Byrstyt helmys, mony to erd thai dang 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. liii.
The see tangle … is doung heir and thair … be alluvion of watter 1535 Stewart 56342.
With his nevis tua of thame he dang Wnder his feit 1562-3 Winȝet I. i 16/19.
Be thir vj quæstiounis follouing al the ground of thare doctrine is doung in the dirt 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 102.
In to dykis by dint it deidly dang thame 1580 Inverness B. Rec. I. 281.
Ane greit tempest … dang the said boit on the craggis 1596 Dalr. II. 81/10.
Quhill the castelis … war bayth doung to the ground 1642 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 292.
Dinging hir violentlie to the earth, quhairthrow she lay deid 1669 Corshill Baron Ct. 87.
The said Williame did ding him over the chimney fyre

b. To drive (nails, etc.) with force. c1420 Wynt. viii. 6738.
Stowpis that rycht deipe ware dungin wythin the erd a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 788.
With gret force the nalis throw thai dang 1533 Bell. Livy I. 62/19.
The fader … dang ane staik in the erde 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 67.
Will ȝe ding whingaris in me, and put me of this world? 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 58.
Thai … dang tua naillis in the touch hollis of the tua small peices of ordinance 1598 Crim. Trials II. i. 46.
Thay … dang wadgeis in the said boir about hir said fingaris c1650 Spalding I. 37.
The calsey wes raveled with staikis of tymber, dung in the erd on both sydis

c. To send or convey with speed. 1547 Stirling B. Rec. I. 50.
That ye … mak the fire cros to be dung with all possible deligence throu all partis … of your offices

d. To drive into the mind or hearing; to din in one's ears. 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 215.
He had doung thame in mony mennis heidis ellis 1562-3 Winȝet II. 3/7.
The notable historie … apperis weray mete to be doung in the eris of al faythful catholik 1582 Declar. Causis 18.
To ding continually in his earis … to think his regnne unsure wantand his moderis bennisoun 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI. 55.
This is dung in sik sort in the ministeris headdis that they caus all the pulpeittis to sound of it 1596 Dalr. I.233/30.
Inculcating and dinging it in the eiris and myndes of all 1610 Bk. Pasquils 10.
The preachers of humilitie … They blew against the Bishops lang, And doctrine in the people dang

e. To reduce to fragments, etc., by beating or smashing; to break in two, etc. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 21/18.
Sen than nocht onlie smal thingis, bot the maist heich wes doung almaist to nocht 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 498.
Of the haill ludgeing … thair is na thing left unruinated and doung in drosse a1578 Pitsc. I. 143/14.
His thie baine was doung in tua 1600-1610 Melvill 33.
He was lyk to ding that pulpit in blads, and fly out of it 1641 Baillie I. 355.
Had the wind been as it was the day before … our veshell had been dung in shards

6. To strike, force, or drive fra or from, out of or off (a person, thing, etc.).(1) ?1438 Alex. i. 148.
Arme and shulder he dang him fra Ib. ii. 9308.
Thay dang thame fra thare dykes than 1531 Bell. Boece I. xiii.
Siclik the Trojanis … The vailyeant Grekis fra thair roumes dang 1533 Bell. Livy I. 113/29.
He … was doung fra the oppugnacioun … be force of pepil 15.. Christis K. 159 (B.).
Fra his thowme thay dang a sklys 15.. Clar. ii. 41.
Ather from uther feirclie dang the scheild 1596 Dalr. II. 18/8.
Andro Moray … dings the Inglismen fra mony castellis c1620 Boyd Fl. Zion Exc. xxiii. 2.
I will them ding now from their braving towres 1665 Lauder Journal 132.
His oune [leg] was dong from him at the siege of Graveling(2) 1513 Doug. x. v. 154.
Thame to withstand At the cost syde, and dyng thame of the land 1533 Bell. Livy I. 12/15.
Ane multitude … quhilkis … war doung out of … thare ciete 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1261.
Quhen I was the nunnis amang, Out of thair dortour thay mee dang 1558-66 Knox I. 204.
Thei dang the sclattis of houssis Ib. II. 320.
Vowes war maid, that the Hammyltonis should be doung … out of the countrey 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 234.
Ane cannone bullet dingis the revell … of one of the horsmenis legis 1615 Melrose P. 207.
The officiar … is … maist oncourteslie doung off his feitt 1623 Elgin Rec. I. 242.
[He] dang the pistollettis out of thair handis 1746 J. Row Sermon 7.
One thing dang another out of my head c1680 W. Row Blair 142.
The rudder [is] either broke or dung off the hinges

7. To beat, cast, or throw down.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 410.
For he thoucht to dyng hym doune Ib. xix. 336. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 512.
Quhene Iowis mad thame bowne To dinge sante Stewyn with stanis done a1500 Rauf C. 915.
[I am] in will … To ding thame doun dourly that euer war in my way c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 26 (A).
He hecht hiely befor Mahovne That he suld dyng the sowtar dovn 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 17.
The burn on spait … Down dyngand cornys Ib. vii. xi. 112.
With leyd pellokis … thar famen doun to dyng 1533 Bell. Livy II. 65/28.
The plebeanis brocht the Wolchis to sege and ding the ciete doun 1570 Leslie 215.
Laird Wemis with that company … set apoun the ennemyis … , dinging thame doune on heapes 1609 Gardyne Garden 92.
Spaits … all her banks in their disdaine doun dings c1650 Spalding II. 338.
He … causit ding doun sum houssis be south the brig of Die 1665 Irvine Mun. II. 91.
Whosoevir sould ding the samyn [papingo] doun sould be capitan(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 5008.
Schyre Andrewe … Wan the castelle off Andristoun, And to the erd syne dange it doun ?1438 Alex. ii. 4490.
On the comouns of Effezoun Sic pay he maid, he dang thame doun a1500 Bk. Chess 333.
Thai stampit so till dovne thai dang the dust 1513 Doug. ix. viii. 126.
The Troianys … dang thame down with pikkis and poyntit styngis 1533 Bell. Livy II. 222/29.
He dang doun the Gaule that wes clummyn to the hicht of the Capitoll c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 532.
The squyer, with his burdoun, Sir Talbart to the eirth dang doun 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 68.
Quhair sindrie godly thay dulefully doun dang 1600-1610 Melvill 64.
A readheadit tead … upon the wall, the quhilk I perceved and dang doun c1650 Spalding I. 320.
Thay … dang doun and abusit beddis, burdes [etc.] Ib. II. 154.
He dang doun the wallis of the Snaw kirk to big wp the college dykes(c) 1375 Barb. ix. 473.
The towne Wes takyn thus and doungyn doune Ib. xvii. 832.
How that … Thair men war slayne and dwngin doune c1420 Wynt. viii. 6606.
The castelle off Dalswyntown Wes takyn, and syne dwngyn down ?1438 Alex. ii. 9825.
Thare hes he doungin doun mony man Ib. 9848.
The citte … Sall to the erd be dungin doun a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 585.
Sanct Lawrence … Apoun the fire with irne forkis downg doun 1533 Bell. Livy II. 214/23.
Thai sufferit the inemyis to ascend myd montane, traisting … thai mycht the more eselie be dung doun agane c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3350.
Quhare throuch ane gret part of the toun By violence wes doungin doun 1596 Dalr. II. 144/1.
The castel walis … [being] sair braschte and dung doun 1621 Perth Kirk S. 298.
The brig of Tay was hailly dung down 1655 Lamont Diary 95.
Piers were doung downe in severall places

b. In figurative contexts or senses. 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 240.
I was … doung down amang the asse c1552 Id. Mon. 5388.
Now ilk ane [prince] dyngis doun ane vther 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2077.
Thow … doun hes doung The Empreouris … fierce furour 1570 Sat. P. xi. 84.
The pryde [to] ding doun Of thame that brocht to graif my deir 1596 Dalr. I. 312/5.
A noble spirit … quhairthrow he vset to ding doune the douchtie 1631 Craig v. 31.
I finde by death my daintie rose dung downe 1641 Baillie I. 291.
A number of pamphlets comes out dailie about Episcopacie, some to hold it up, some to ding it downe

8. With various adverbs: To drive, force, or beat abak or bak, again, away, furth, out or up.(1) 1456 Hay I. 51/32.
Cipio … dang agayn thame that wald have fled the toune 1513 Doug. ix. xi. 51.
Thai with all thar complicis in fycht War dung abak 1562-3 Winȝet II. 53/20.
As certane contrarious wallis [= waves] ar doung abak 1588 King Cat. 30.
Ding bak from me al vaitlayers for me c1590 J. Stewart 60/116.
I sould thois vords ding bakuart in thy throt 1596 Dalr. I. 286/4.
The king in haist meitis thame, and dingis thame bak 1628 Soc. Ant. XXVIII. 443.
I wes cassin in heir be ane tempest of weather … and being doung back again [etc.] c1650 Spalding II. 337.
The erllis cam in and wes dvng bak agane(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 3826.
That towne straytly assegede he … Bot thai ware dwngyn welle away ?1438 Alex. i. 102.
Thair chiftane … dang the furreouris away 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 248.
The an half of the gabionis and a part of the bastalȝe [are] dwng away(3) 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 79.
Schaip ȝe … harpeys expelland dyng … furth of thar faderis ryng? 1517 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 172.
Vnder the payne of dinging furth of the punscheoun heid 1558-66 Knox I. 460.
Our soldiouris could skarslie be dong furth of the towne a1578 Pitsc. I. 303/14.
They cruellie dang thame fourth of the castell 1596 Dalr. I. 138/17.
The place … quhair the Britannis he dang furth of thay boundes(4) 1656 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 197.
Andro Wardin confessed that he dung off Rob. Murray's bonnet(5) c1475 Wall. iv. 248.
Wallace … Dang out his harnys 1526 Stirling B. Rec. I. 26.
The balyeis sall … ding out the fat bodim and deil the brewin 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4234.
Out of hell the Devill scho wald ding out 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7847.
Scho … with ane stane twa of his teith out dang a1578 Pitsc. II. 83/14.
Thair [they] enterit in and dang out the portar frome the ȝett 1596 Dalr. I. 82/21.
Quhen the Danes ar dung out, the Nortmans [etc.] 1611-57 Mure II. 253.
The king … dang out his eye with the spang of ane cocle-shell 1633 M. Works Acc. XXVI. 4.
Ane wadge of irone to ding out the window in the heiche rowme 1644 Baillie II. 237.
I am hopefull the bottom of their plotts shall be dung out(6) c1475 Wall. ix. 1348.
Wallace full sone the brassis wp he dang 1513 Doug. vii. x. 48.
Juno … with hir awin handis Dang vp the ȝettis 1535 Stewart 35855.
With ane dunt the dur sone vp tha dang 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 65.
Thai brocht foir hamberis and dang vp the … tolbuith dure perforce 1600 Acts IV. 210/1.
I saw ane ding vp the lang scoirit window … , bot quha dang it vp I knaw nocht c1650 Spalding I. 49.
Thay maisterfullie dang wp the vtter court yettis