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)horting, -yng, vbl. n. Also: schortin; scorting. [ME and e.m.E. shorting (a1390); S(c)hort v.]
1. The action of S(c)hort v. a. In sense 1. b. With reference to distance.a. 1456 Hay II 96/15.
That lechery is destructioun of the body, schortyng of lyf [etc.] 1533 Boece 74.
The oratouris of Ptholome … put in writt as thai fand and saw of … variance of the lenthing and schorting baith of day and nycht 1535 Stewart 31262.
Quhilk wes the caus of schorting of his dais a1538 Abell 32a.
Warldlie dignate is oft tyme schortin of life 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a, fol. 20a.
The iudge may requyre him to consent to the samyn for scorting of proces 1650 Carstairs Lett. 70.
But the shorting of the dayes of the pilgrimes … He has no will they should be long wretched and miserableb. 1656–7 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 409.
For ane gabert for loading cabbars and shorting the way of cariage
c. Becaus of schorting, for the sake of brevity.1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 73.
Bot of thair … notable operationis [etc.] … becaus of schorting, at this tyme we lat pas
2. Amusement; pastimes, collectively. Cf. S(c)hort v. 3.?1438 Alex. ii 5127.
Of schorting solace and of gamyng … Amang thame intermes thay maid
