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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Opin-, Oppining, Opning, vbl. n. Also: opyn(n)-, oppyn-, open-, oppn- and -yng. [ME. and e.m.E. openyng, -ing, late OE. openung.]

1. The action of opening, in various senses of the verb.(1) 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 79.
Proclamationis … for selling of victualis and oppynyng of gyrnellis c1575 Balfour Pract. 635.
It is … forbiddin to all cheifis … to mak opning of ony cofferis 1579 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 102.
And specialie for the oppynning the auld conductis of the Wattergait 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 211.
For opening of lokis 1593 Elgin Rec. II. 34.
Accusit of … oppining of his buyth dur that daye [Sunday] 1633 Cranna Fraserburgh 37.
For oppning of … his pantrie and houis durris with ane wrang key(2) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest .
Without thay be euacuat be opining of ane vaine 1579 Athole Mun. I. No. 90.
He wes present at the death and oppyning of the Erll of Athoill(3) 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 202.
Be oppynnyng of the scripturis and places tharof most apt for the purpos a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) i.
Being … resolved to essay the opening of the ten commandments(4) 1543 St. P. Henry VIII IV. ii. 284.
Albeit for oppinning her of we can nocht gyf to ȝour majeste sec thankis(5) 1375 Barb. iii. 532.
I trow gretyng Be na thing bot ane opynnyng Off hart that schawis the tendirnys Off rewth that in it closyt is(6) 1681 Stair Inst. iv. iii. 2.
The Lords … do most strictly judge all informalities and nullities for opening the decreet, that any thing escaping in material justice may be amended

2. concr. An opening. 1375 Barb. xii. 109 (E).
Quhen thai the Douglas saw ner hand Thai wandyst and maid ane opynnyng c1420 Wynt. iv. 1201.
Sa wgsum thare that opynnyng fell That throuch a ryfft men mycht se hell 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 26.
To lyne the opnyng of the sleiffis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 140/18.
His precius body come throu the blist wame … without ony hole ore opynnyng Ib. MS. 232 a.
The apercioune and opynning of His syd Arundel MS. 242/132.
The … maist largnes of Thy marcy quhilk Thow furth schaw in the opnyng of Thi syd