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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Saying, vbl. n.² Also: -inge, sayng(e, saing, sying. [ME and e.m.E. saying (Cursor M.), sayng, seyyng, sedgeyng (all in Manning), sayinge (1387–8), saynge (Caxton).]

1. The action of uttering words, also expressing (something), counting, etc. in words. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 176/7 (Asl.).
To … fle ewill deidis or reprevable sayng or sweryng 1496 Acta Conc. II 39.
The sade Peter allegit that the sade Jhone had varyit in the saying of the sade vij Franch crounis … in the sade purse, … sayand sumtyme that thair was … bot thre … and uther tymes v 1513 Doug. i Prol. 123.
Or than to mak my sayng schort sum tyme 1628 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 18 June.
[She] refusit the saying off the wordis of sclander conteinit in the bill

b. The action of reciting (the mass). 1473 Lanark & R. 194.
For the saynge of the said mes 1572 Crim. Trials I ii 31.
For sying and ministratioune of the mes 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 716.
Of the saying of messis within the burgh of Dumfries

2. Something said; a statement, pronouncement, dictum. a1500 Henr. Practysis 5.
Ȝour saying I haif sene and on syd set it c1490 Porteous Noblenes 174/13 (Asl.).
Thar sayng and promys [should be] fermely haldin and kepit 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 64.
Thocht in our leid hys [sc. Virgil's] sayngis to declar I haue … tane the cur 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 75.
Thome Bell … , restit and sworn, concordis with Jhone of Murraye word be word of his sayingis 1539 Aberd. B. Rec. I 160.
At your maiestie pleysse, rattefy and afferme the saying ye promest ws the tyme of our chesing in office, that is to say … that we hef securite in your bukis thairof 1549 Soc. Ant. XI 95.
The said … Erle of Cathenes schamis nocht to allege vntrew saingis to glois his faling in the article c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1339. 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 36.
To absteyne … fra sic blasphemous sayingis a1568 Bann. MS 82a/10.
Tyme beiris witnes my saying is trew 1573 Cath. Tr. 3/3.
The writtinges … vsis to be stufit … with schoring and hedinfull saingis a1578 Pitsc. I 92/13.
At this saying the erle was verray wraith and cryit for hors 1606 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 52.
Lipning … that thair awin sayinges … wald discower thair malicious myndes

3. A wise or authoritative dictum or precept (either spoken or written). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1130.
Salomonis saying thow may persaif heirin 1492 Myll Spect. 273/20.
The dictis or sayingis of the haly faderis & wys philosophouris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 669.
Quhy suld nocht thare sayng be tyll ws schawin In our language? 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 131.
Now wyll we rehers the commoun sayingis … for trewlie, albeit the sayingis be barbour and commoun, the rycht understanding of the samyn servis mekle for men unlearnit Ib. 166.
Thay pervert and thraw the sayingis of the doctores 1562-3 Winȝet II 18/24.
The sayingis of the samin wtherways this man, and that man interpretis 1596 Dalr. I 341/5.
Gret authoritie was gyuen to his [sc. Thomas the Rhymer's] sayngs

b. A proverb. a1578 Pitsc. II 157/14.
It is ane auld saying in Scotland, ‘I may weill sie my freind neid bot I will not sie him bleid’ 1677 Red Bk. Grandtully II 233.
The wise saying of the borowers being a servant to the lainer