A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1541-1680
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Kitling, n. Also: -lyng, -line, kitteline. [ME. kyt-, kiteling (a 1300), kete-, keetling (14th c.), the young of any animal, e.m.E. kytlyn, kitling, ketling, a kitten, ON. ketlingr (Norw. kjetling, Sw. dial. kättling), dim. of kǫttr, kattr a cat.]
1. A kitten.1596 Misc. Spald. C. I. 96.
Ane catt come in vpone him … and wireit ane of hir awin kitlingis 1597 Criminal Trials II. 29.
Scho baid him get a grene gwise, with four or fyve kitlingis, and put the kitlingis in the guise wambe, and roist the samyn a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 889.
It is ill bairne [= bearing, conduct] borrowing a cats kitling sho is ay mewting for it c 1680 Bk. Pasquils 183.
Pouse … She reconceileed hir kittelline to his grace
2. Applied contemptuously to children and persons: = ‘whelp’, brat.1541 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. XVII (J.).
Calling of him theiff geytt, howris geyt, preistis kitlyne 1571 Elgin Rec. I. 127.
Thow ceist ane barrall of makis furth of the weym; thow castis bot kitlyngis and nocht childeryng 1642 Dundonald Par. Rec. 501.
[She] had sclandered her … that shoe was a witch kitling
