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)hortin, -en, v. Also: s(c)hortn-. [e.m.E. shorten (1513), shortn- (1598); S(c)hort adj.] tr. To shorten, or make short, in senses 1 and 2 of S(c)hort v.(1) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5309.
Mathew … doith report That … The letter tyme sall schortnit be, For plesour of the chosin nummer 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV i 117.
Gif my intentioun had bene to schorten ȝour dayes [etc.] 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 58.
Alsmekle gold … as wald bye poulder aneugh to schorten his paine a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 166/35 (see S(c)hort v. 1 b).
Schortin c1590 Fowler I 101/114.
And longest lyfe through lenthe of yeares dois shorten but our name 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. (1591) Sig. K. 5a.
How meikle mair shal ane heape of sinnes concurring in one persone shorten the dayes? The sacrilegious blasphemer, and the bloody adulterer, and infinite maa vther sins, concurring in one persone, shall not these shorten this miserable life? 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 913 n.
That the tyme appoyntit to the disputes be nocht schortnit, the presbyterie ordanis [etc.](2) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 216.
With pro and contra, so shortnit we the way
