A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1442, 1540-1700+
[0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
Sclandering, vbl. n. Also: -inge; sclandring, sklander-, schlander-, slandering; (sklandyng). [ME and e.m.E. sclaunderynge (Wyclif), slaundering (1586); Sclander v.]
1. The uttering of a slanderous statement; defamation; slandering; miscalling.(1) 1540 Elgin Rec. I 54.
[Called] for the mastirfull schlandering and saying in jugement that … William Gaderar wes ane dalie oppressour of him 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 61.
Tormentit with inwart terrouris of gyltie conscience, to sclandering, cavilling and lesing 1588 Elgin Rec. II 10.
Scho sall kepe hir townge clos from bakbytting, sclanderinge and flytting 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 155.
Thomas Wallace … ordeined to mak his repentance … for his sclandering and railing on the minister 1618 Elgin Rec. II 155.
To … ask … mercie for sklandering him in calling him hen pyker 1620 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i 2.
Agnes Garner being fund guiltie of sclandring her husband 1633 St. A. Baxter Bks. 96.
Ane complaint … againes Patrik Walcar for sclandering [pr. schandering] and abusseing 1639 Baillie I 154.
He was proven guilty … of … lyeing and sclandering our old Assemblies and Covenant in his wicked book — 1705 Boharm Kirk S. 24 June.
A bill against … John Thomson for slandering his good name in calling him a … witch(2) 1562 Aberd. B. Rec. I 346.
For the iniuring of diuerse nychtbouris … in deid and sklandering of thame in word 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 197.
The wrangus sclandering of Elizabeth Braidfut 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 433.
For missaying, detracting and sclandering of the baillies of Abirdene 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 8.
Accuseit for the sclandering of the haill personis within the yle of Unst, calling thame all dyvouris 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 11 April.
Adam Burnet haid satisfeit … for his sklandering of Marjorie Andersone & calling hir a witch 1639 Dundonald Par. Rec. 446.
John M‘Kerrell … challengit William Yong … for sclandering of his wyfe … in calling her ane theif, that shoe stoll silver [etc.](b) 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III 212.
Issobell Blak … convict … for … slandering of George Boyes, laxfisher, in saying he had stolen a kow 1661 Dunferm. Kirk S. 58.
The said Bessie her slandering of Margaret Crichton in calling her glengorie bitch(c) 1442 Coldingham Priory 141/16.
And on this Sonday in sklandyng of me he passit to Sant Ebbis(3) 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 88.
For sclandering the said Walteris wyfe ane theife hure without ony liklines or probatioun
b. A malicious or slanderous statement. 1624 St. A. Baxter Bks. 86.
The filthie sclandering and evill report maid be him aganis the said Androw
2. The action of accusing (a person) of or with wrongdoing or error, also for (goods stolen). 1546 Prot. Bk. H. Anderson in Sources and Lit. Sc. Law 299.
[He] grantit that he haid faillit to him in the sc[l]andering of him for the saids gudis 1563 Ferg. Answer in 1563-72 Tracts 24.
As to your sclandring with noualtie our faith and doctrine [etc.] 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 70.
For hir … malicious sclandering of Geilis M‘Geakhein baith of hurdume and thift
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Sclandering vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sclandering_vbl_n>
