A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Leving, vbl. n.1 Also: levyng, lewing, -yng, leiv-, leav-, leaw-, lieve-, livin(g. [ME. levyng (Rolle), leeving, e.m.E. leaving: cf. also Lefing vbl. n.1]
1. Leaving, relinquishing, in senses (5–8) of Leve v.1(1) a1578 Pitsc. I. 122/5.
His haill wictorie … had fallin to him … throw the Hammilltounis defectioun and leving of them 1662 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. II. 64.
Ther beinge to manie friendes and the defuncts pairtie irresolute, it [a lawsuit] hade not that good success was wished, it was that lenth of biding and leiving 1680 Galloway P. April.
In alse good conditione … as they shall gett them at the said Andrew Dunce his leaving(2) a1500 Sir Eger 1238.
To you I make living Of my life, and no other thing(3) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 300.
The leiving of the hous of Merchingstoun wes [ordered by] capitane Hew Lauder, callit serjand majour(4) a1400 Leg. S. v. 108.
For sic lewynge Of vice is nocht clengit the thinge c1450 Cr. Deyng 158.
Quha takes hyme sorow … in the levyng of this cardenall delytes
2. concr., only plur., Leavings, left-overs, remains. Also fig. and attrib.
in sing.1513 Doug. i. ix. 32.
The Troianys, … the Grekis levyngis and remanys Ib. v. xiii. 50.
For to be wrokin Apon thar [sc. the Trojans'] sary levingis and remanys Ib. vii. iv. 119.
The sobir levyngis reft from Troys fyre a1538 Abell 36 b.
Maxym wald haif tane the lewyngis of the Scottis in trewis 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II. 209.
He sall haif his meit of the conwentis lewgis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10700.
The foulis that fleis in the air The doggis leuingis to tak vp to thair skair 1668 Rothesay B. Rec. 150.
Sume Wollin yairne and clews and livins of yallow yairnefig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 461.
God send me, if it were but the relics and leavings, or an ounce-weight or two, of His matchless love
attrib.1685 New Mills Manuf. 99.
That noe more cairsey cloath be made but that the lieveing yearn be made in broad cloath
