A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Siching, Sighing, vbl. n. Also: sichinge, sychin(g, sichin, sichand; syking. [ME and e.m.E. sighing(e (a1300), siking (Havelok), sykyng (c1400).]
1. The action of sighing.For further examples of sare siching (siching sare), see Sar(e adj. 7 a.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii 3801.
Lat ȝour siching be! ?1438 Alex. ii 6845.
At … thare parting, Was maid mony greuous siching 1456 Hay II 158/2.
Be sobbing and siching, hosting and aynding a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 450.
Sowpit in syte, I say with sair siching 1528 Lynd. Dreme 333.
Dolour infinyte … With sobbyng, syching, sorrow, and with syte 1540 Lynd. Sat. 389.
With siching sair I am bot schent a1568 Bann. MS 212a/3.
O foly hairt … Compone thy self and lat thi sychin be a1585 Maitl. Q. 200/1.
With siching sad and surging sorrow soir c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxix 7, etc. 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 13/17.(b) 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iii 506.
Spiritus: (sighing)(c) 1533 Boece 224b.
My wourdis be sichin ar brokin(d) 15.. Dunb. App. x 39.
Exyll all sichand on thy scherwand rew(e) a1500 Quare Jel. 233.
To recist agaynis tyranny … With syking wailling pleynyng and prayere
2. An instance of sighing; a sigh.?1438 Alex. ii 7778.
With mad murning and sichingis sare c1450-2 Howlat 957 (A).
He solpit, he sorowit, in sighingis seire 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9858.
The empreour … With sair sichingis and sobbings to him said [etc.] a1568 Scott x 53.
Thair is nocht wie Can estimie My sorrow and my sichingis sair
b. Passing into: An expression of sorrow or grief; a lament.a1585 Maitl. Q. 206/157.
As I past this siching could I say, All men sall die that euer draweth braith
