A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1627-1649
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0]
(Of-,) Off-falling, Offalling, vbl. n. [Also in the later dial. as offallings, aff-fa'ins.] Only plur. a. Things fallen off or cast aside, remnants, scraps. Chiefly or only in fig. contexts and viewed as benefits. b. A moral falling off, lapse or declension (cf. also Of-faller,n.). —a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1278.
Quhair there is gentles, there is offallings, hornes of Pan or anie thing 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 151. 1637 Ib. 308.
I should be glad to lie under Christ's feet and kep and receive the off-fallings or the old pieces of any grace that fall from His sweet fingers to forlorn sinners 1637 Ib. 318.
Oh that I had but Christ's odd off-fallings 1638 Ib. 555.
I find the consolation and off-fallings that follow the cross of Christ so sweet that I almost forget myself. My desire and purpose is when Christ's honeycombs drop [etc.] a1649 Drummond Hist. Scotl. Jas. I (1655) 20 (OED.).
Many who were accustomed to be copartners of such off-fallings, began to storm and repine at his actions
