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.
Quotation dates: 1460, 1513-1624
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Quhispering, -yng, vbl. n. Also: quis-, whis-, wis-. [ME and e.m.E. wispryng (Chaucer), whisperyng (c1450), cf. OE hwisprung.]
1. (The action of) speaking in a whisper.c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 63.
With ane sibbling and ane quhispering He kissit the quene sittand besyde the king 1531 Bell. Boece I 154.
But ony quhispering [M. wispering] on the montanis, quhare maist gild was hard afore 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 78.
Nor fra the whispering of the words 1590-1 Ib. 77 (see Quhisper v. 1). 1624 Dalyell Darker Superst. 124.
By ganting and whispering over [him] … [she] maid him that he … became … weill
2. Secret, malicious insinuation; rumour-mongering. b. A report spread in secret; a rumour.1558-66 Knox II 156.
Some quhispering thair wes, that the duke and the Bischop of Sanct-androis were too familiare 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 283.
From the quhispering and calumpnies of thame that wald abuse his hienes eare be misreportis 1584 Ib. 645.
Be quhispering of seditioun and spreiding of untreuthis 1606 Melrose P. 21.
Thair wes nevir one … who hes hard ony kynd of quhispering concerning this materb. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 21.
In this meane tyme raise thair a whispering that the Erle of Lennox shuld returne to Scotland 1587–8 Reg. Privy C. IV 253.
Sindrie bruittes, reportis and privie quisperingis of sum uproare
3. A subdued, hissing sound.1513 Doug. viii ii 54.
With … sobyr quhisperyng The pikkyt bargis of fyr fast can thryng
