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.
Missing, vbl. n. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. missing, myssyng(e.]
1. Awareness of loss, regret for the loss or absence (chiefly of a person).1573 Davidson Sat. P. xli. 38. 1574 Id. in Three Reformers 117.
I trowe sic missing of a man Wes not in Kyle sen it began a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 196.
They [Scots] … slew … eightscore of their best men of war and mariners, of whom they had great missing thereafter in guiding of their ships 1622 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 344.
Ther will be greatt missing of him thatt is gone 1631 Sel. Biog. I. 363. 1645 Baillie II. 279.
We have had great missing of yow here 1680 Cloud of Witnesses 51.
The greatest persecutor or malignant will have sore missing of His favour in that day
2. In the phrase in missing, = missing, absent, lost, wanting; lacking, deficient.Cf. Amissing ppl. a.(1) a1578 Pitsc. I. 197/25.
Gif ony thing war in missing 1614 Crim. Trials III. 298.
That his fader wes in missing and oute of the castell of Dunbartane Ib. 302.
Ane other letter of the erlis that wes in missing(2) 1596 Dalr. I. 39/10.
In Rosse and Loquhaber … ar nocht in missing [L. non desunt] fir trie sufficient
