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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.

Smelling, vbl. n. Also: -yng, smelinge. [ME and e.m.E. smelling (c1175); Smel(l v.]

1. The sense of smell. a1400 Leg. S. xliii 202.
Ydolis … ar dume & defe, but smelling [etc.] c1420 Ratis R. 153.
The thrid wertew is smelinge Of nes c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 15/12.
In hering, seing, tuiching, gusting, smelling Arundel MS 253/425.
Lorde, I haue synnit in my gust, in my sycht, and in my smelling, in my speiking [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 825.

2. a. Const. out: The action of discovering as if by smell. Cf. Smel(l v. 2. b. Perfuming, causing (something) to smell (pleasant). Cf. Smel(l v. 3.a. 1600-1610 Melvill 64.
[He had] wounderfull sagacitie and smelling out of men's naturallsb. 1599 Treas. Acc. MS 27b.
Ane polket of taffatie with poulder thairin for smelling of the saidis claithis

3. Scent, smell. Cf. Smel(l n. Also fig. ?a1450 Florimond 494.
And quhen the lyoun of the king, And of his hors, hade the smelling, He wes blythfig. 1490 Irland Mir. III 16/2.
The odour and sueit sauour and smelling of gud fame