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.
Quhissilling, vbl. n. Also: quhisling, -yng; quhist-, quhestlyng; whissilling. [ME and e.m.E. whistlyng (Wyclif), whisling (17th c.), cf. OE hwistlung, huislung, also Quhissil(l v. 1.] a. Crying or yelping (of a hound). Cf. Questing vbl. n. b. Whistling (of wind). Cf. Quhissil(l v. 3. c. Hissing. Cf. Quhissil(l v. 1. —a. 1375 Barb. vi 87 (C).
He herd as it war A hundis quhistlyng [E. questionyng, H. whissilling] apon fer Ib. 94.
Quhestlyngb. 1513 Doug. i ii 6.
Quhar Eolus … the wyndis lowde quhissilling [Sm., Ruddim. quhisling] … by hys power refrenysc. 1513 Doug. xii xiii 182.
As Iuturna … dyd heir Of this fury the quhislyng [L. stridorem] and the beir [etc.]
