A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quething-word, n. Also: quethyng-, (quenthing-). [Cf. ME queþinge, queethyng (Wyclif) bequeathing, and e.m.E. queth-word (1481–1532) legacy, bequest, f. ME queðe(n, quethe to speak, say, tell (appar. obsol. in this sense by the 15th c.), to bequeath (1303–1530), OE cweðan to speak, say, tell.] In Douglas: The farewell speech to one who has died, the last farewell. Also pl., id. —1513 Doug. ii x 145.
So, so, hald on, leif this ded body alane; Say the last quething [E., Ruthv. quenthing] word, adew, to me Ib. ix viii 62.
Als forto tak my leif for evir and ay Thy last regrait and quethyng [Ruthv., 1553 quenthing] wordis to say
