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.
Quotation dates: 1398-1560
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Lif(f)ing, Lyf(f)ing, vbl. n. Also: liffin(e, -yng(e, lyf(f)yng(e. [North. ME. lyfyng, lifing (14th c.), f. Lif v. Cf. Living and Lefing.]
1. The passing of life on the earth or in heaven; duration of life, lifetime.(1) 1398 Acts I. 212/1.
The complayntis of … the Qwene anentis hyr pension … for the terme of hyr lyfynge 1428 Liber Aberbr. 58.
For al the tym of the said abbotis lyffyng(2) 1456 Hay I. 81/35.
Vertuously to lyve in this lyfing here 1461 Liber Pluscardensis I. 385.
Anon we pas to lyffyng eternelle 1461 Ib. 386.
The payn He suld haue in this lyffyng langarus 1490 Irland Mir. I. 18/25.
The vij perfit beatitudis of … hevinly liffing 1490 Ib. 44/7.
In this present mortale liffin
b. Mode of living, way of life.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 971.
Laith [sic in pr., ? for lauch (= law)] of lyfing [pr. lysing] als taucht he Til ilke man in his degre a1400 Ib. xxvii. 321.
The forsad King Was wytryt wele of his lyfyng c1420 Ratis Raving 1743.
To be werteus in his liffing 1490 Irland Mir. I. 12/35.
Quhethire thi manere of lyfing in thi state riall plesis to God ore nocht a1500 Bk. Chess 73.
The King Off Babulone that was in his liffing Sa vicious crowell(2) 1456 Hay I. 38/23.
He techit thaim new lyfing 1456 Ib. II. 88/29.
And thus cummys othir wrechitnes of unworthy lyfing 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 90/7.
[To] expel hatrent, diuisione & auaricius lyffing furtht of ȝour hartis
2. The means of living; provender, provision, food and clothing; livelihood, maintenance.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii. 152.
Sume tuk a clathe to hele his corce & sume of lyfinge mad na forse a1400 Ib. xx. 39.
Vthyre lyfynge had he nocht Bot as the foulis til hym brocht 1444 Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 34.
Gif it likis to the said Wilȝam or Jonet … to cum and tak sic liffing in our hospitall as our brether dois 1456 Hay I. 8/21.
The apostolis … tuke … almous dede of thing that belangit lyfing anerly 1456 Ib. 43/9.
[They] suld be payit of thair wagis to hald up thair estate and thair lyfing 1456 Ib. 115/2.
That his men be nocht dissavit in the sellyng of lyfing to thame 1456 Ib. 134/2, 145/26, 30; 159/8; 185/7. 1456 Ib. II. 15/15; 1456 Ib. 84/19.
The peple to labour the ground to graith lyfing for the knychtis and nobles a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 285.
And thai had a thrifty man With gudly sufficiand lyffing(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi. 122.
That Matydiane worthit ga To gat lyfing to thame twa a1400 Ib. xxxix. 24.
Til a crafte … Quhare-of hai mycht thare liffine get a1500 Henr. Fab. 1099 (B).
[They] gapis for to get mare lifing 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 40.
Ony hussis … that wantis husbandis to wyn thar liffing 1560 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. XXIV. (J).
To help him to ane craym that he may trawell to win his lifing in the cuntray
3. Landed property, as a means of support.1504 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 139.
To pay … for the … marrying of hir … with sum … nobil man worth six hundred merkis of lyffing
