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.
Osting, Oisting, vbl. n. Also: ostijng, -yng, -ying; oistening, oysting, -en; oosting. Plur. also oistence. [Ost n.1: cf. e.m.E. osting (1621, in reference to Ireland), and Hosting vbl. n.1]
1. Campaigning, active military service. = Hosting vbl. n.1 1.In osting, on campaign.c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 7253.
And ordand his menȝe To pas in oisting baith beland and sey 1477 Stewart Mem. 75.
Quhen oure souerane lord has ony osting in this realme or vtouth c1475 Wall. viii. 1238.
‘Madem,’ he said, ‘ … How plesis ȝow our ostyng for to se?’ 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 455.
To mak … seruice … weill furnist as efferis in hosting … within the realme of Scotland or the osting of Ingland 1526 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I. 236.
[James … directed Angus to] pass in osting upoun the said brokin men 1527 Ib. App. xxv.
Complenes John Armestrang … upon William Lord Dacre, Sir Cristofer Dacre, knight … that they com with plane osting to the Holehouse 1528 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 276.
I suld stand bundin … to mak generale oisting and radis vpon thame 1535 Stewart 34547.
Oisting
2. The assembling or assemblage for military service when summoned by the crown. = Ost n.1 2, Hosting vbl. n.1 2, 3.(1) 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 318/2.
Exemis thaim fra all … passing apoun inquestis, assis or to osting 1520 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. vi. 33.
Gif ony generall osting beis diuisit to pass apoune the saidis rebellis 1536 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 200.
Being on the said erleis expenssis in all materis that I serf or ryde in his seruice, except in ostyng and huntyne 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 202. 1544 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 19.
To maintain … Schyr Patrick … on our expensis in tym of pace and in tym of weir and osting 1549 Black Bk. Taymouth 188.
Ostying 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 434.
Ostijng(b) 1542–3 Reg. Privy S. III. 5/2.
We haif … dischargeit … the said Alexander of all walking, warding, or oisting within oure realme or outwith 1547 Misc. Spald. C. II. 203. c 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 309.
Oysting 1556 Old Ross-shire I. 15. 1580–1 Reg. Great S. 41/2.
[Exempt] ab omni lie oisting, waching, fecht [etc.] 1620 Old Ross-shire I. 272.
With … personal service … to oistening and hunting quhen … requeirit(2) plur. 1543 Jervise Memor. Angus & Mearns II. 142.
To gang and ryid with his lordschip in oistingis and uder besines in peace and weyr 1543 Misc. Spald. C. II. 271.
Except in tyme of generale convuentionis … or oistence 1576 Waus Corr. 128.
To … roll the tennandis … at all reiddis, oystenis, and gadderinis
3. ? concr. An army. = Ost n.1 1.c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1134.
Thus Samsone tuk his leve and hame agane Vnto the osting com with allhis mane Ib. 14318. 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI. 830.
Gif the necessitie of the service sall require oppin oistingis with careage and palyeonis to ly on the feildis for ony space
4. Attrib. with barrell, burd, closet, crele, kist: As used on active service, field-. = Hosting vbl. n.1 4.1571 Treas. Acc. XII. 286.
xxxviij barrellis to be oisting barrellis to his grace —1496 Ib. I. 295.
Giffin for … viij bowlis for trestis for the oosting burd 1545 Ib. VIII. 406.
To turs … pavillionis, oisting burdis … etc. —1496 Ib. I. 294.
For jc nalis to the Kingis oosting closait —1542 Rentale S. Andree 139.
Oisting crelis —1569–70 Canongate Ct. Bk. 160.
Ane hors in carrage with his oisting kistis 1571 Treas. Acc. XII. 286.
For four dosane of daillis to be oisting kistis 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI. 281.
Ane oisting kist 1615 Reg. Privy S. MS. 21st Nov.
Item oisting kist of fir in the quhilk thair is ane basin and ane laver of pewder
