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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.

S(c)heddin(g, vbl. n. Also: -yng; s(c)hed-, scheid-; shead-; schadd-. [S(c)hed v.]

1. The action of causing (blood) to flow, or letting it flow in senses 8 a, b and c of S(c)hed v.]See also Blude-schedding for further examples.(1) 1456 Hay I 269/31.
Bot in all sik bataillis mortale the princis … suld be ay … full of … pitee of manis blude schedding 1513 Doug. ii x 181.
From mekil blude schedding of Priamus Hiddir, belyfe, sal cum cruell Pyrrus 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 354.
Scheddyng 1533 Gau 96/29.
Deliuer vs fra fir and vater hunger and weris and schedding of bluid 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4563.
Thay cure not schedding of Cristin blude c1552 Id. Mon. 3638.
For thow did aye blude schedding thryste Ib. 3867.
For scheddyng of the saikles blude Off prophetis a1568 Scott xxxvi 58.
Lord God, deliuer me … Frome schedding blude and homicyd 1558-66 Knox II 355. a1578 Pitsc. II 208/32.(b) 15.. Clar. iii 1100.
The crewell scheding of the heathine bloode Be Cristine knichtis 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 16.
[The Lord] in this realme plantit His gospel trew, But scheding blud a1578 Pitsc. II 82/4.
At that poure mans bloode scheding 1596 Dalr. I 41/1.
Ony slauchtir or ony scheding of manis blude(c) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 115.
Hir majestie come to Edinburgh without any maner of scheiding of blood a1578 Pitsc. II 93/9.(d) 1565 Bk. Common Order in Knox VI 311.
Sheading(e) 1614 Melrose P. 145.
There is great appeirance of muche blood schadding before the hous(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 791.
Cystir dere, Dred nocht! for scheding of thi blud Sal be to thé baptysme gude Quhare-thru the cron resaf sal thou Of martirdome(3) 1622-6 Bisset II 179/20.
That croun of glorie that … my salvioure hes purchest by the schedding of His precius bluid(4) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebrews xi 28.
Be faith he hallowit Pasche and the schedding out of blude

b. The action of letting fall or spilling (fluid). c. Effusion (of tears). See S(c)hed v. 9.b. c1600 Medical Recipes 91b.
Januar he[s] the signe of manis scheddin vatterc. 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS 24 July.
The appeirance scho hed of great repentance … in schedding of tereis

2. a. The action of dividing (something) into parts. b. The act of separating (some sheep from others). c. Parting (from other people); departure. See S(c)hed v. 1 and 3.a. 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII 146b.
His haill thrie sonnes … to haif alyk mekill all in with thair moder … but onie schedding or parting thairofb. 1692 Peebles B. Rec. II 139.
The saids herds … shall keep ane sett day for shedding, spaning, and clippingc. 1629 Dundonald Par. Rec. 270.
The time of theyr shedding … was tuo houres before the cock had crowed 1655 Dumfries Kirk S. 26 April.
[The session appoints] John Corbet & John Broun for attending the shedings of the gate at … ilk poirt every Sabboth day wntill the people be brought to good ordour