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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1420, 1475-1627
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Mening, vbl. n.2 Also: mein-, mean- and -yng(e. [ME. mening(e (c 1200, 14th c.), thereafter only Sc.; Mene v. 2]
1. (The vocal expression of) mourning or lamentation.Also to mak menyng, to lament (for a person).(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 4726.
Off that he fell in gret langure In menyng sare and hard dolure c1420 Ib. viii. 6037. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 734.
Madennys murnyt with gret menyng amang a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 621.
Thai suld suffer but murmuros menyng 1533 Boece xv. i. 574 b.
This tratoure be nycht and day … be exceding pane ceissit never fra ȝamering & menyng 1535 Stewart 2494. 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx. 27.
Douglas … & gude Westiraw was last With lytill meaning fra the men be past(2) 1375 Barb. xiii. 483 (E).
Men has nocht sene Quhar he for ony man maid menyng 1375 Ib. xv. 238. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 1205.
Sum menyng maid and merweillyt off that cace
2. Stating as a formal complaint. (Mene v.2 4.) 1618 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 161.
In meining to the lords of Previe Counsall the hurt sustenit be the merchands 1627 Ib. 258.
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"Mening vbl. n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mening_vbl_n_2>
