A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Merr-, Marring, vbl. n. Also: -yng(e, -yne. [ME. merring, e.m.E. marring (1561), OE. merrung, mierring.] The action of Mer v.: Impairment; damaging, spoiling; hurt, harm; obstructing, hindering, impediment.But merryng (in Leg. S.), without harm, unharmed.Appar. rare or unrecorded during the 16th and early 17th centuries.(1) 1375 Barb. xix. 155 (C).
He delt sa curtasly With me that on na vis suld I Giff consell till his merring [E. nethring] a1400 Leg. S. xiii. 80.
[The eagle] the sowne clerlyaste seis For-owt merryne of his sicht Ib. xxvii. 917.
He … saw als clerly all kine thinge As he of sicht had neuir merring Ib. xlvi. 241.
But merryng of clathis [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii. 7442.
His mycht great marring to vs mais c1420 Wynt. viii. 4863.
That nane merryng to thame made 1494 Loutfut MS. 112 b.
The keparis of the feild suld attent weil to the fechtaris and keip thaim weil fra marring of thaim —1635 Dickson Wr. 84.
If ye had to do to speak to some great man, ye would be loath to drink mickle for marring of your wits 1637 Dumbarton B. Rec. 53.
Trubelling and marring of thy wark a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 191.
Here is held forth the soveraignity … of Christ's dominion; … there is no marring of any of His orders Ib. 426.
Expostulating with them for the marring them in the exercise of their due authority(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 176.
The abbot thane … Into the fyre but mare can lepe & duelt thar but merryng In hyd or hare or in clething Ib. xxxix. 308.
Hale and fere but merryng Ib. xxviii. 669.
