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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1649
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Sob(b, n. Also: sobbe, sobe. [ME and e.m.E. sob(be (Chaucer); Sob(b v.]
1. A sob, a convulsive sound, expressive of grief or anguish. Also transf. or fig.See Sich n. for further examples.1513 Doug. iii v 121.
Syk wordis scho spak, wepyng with petuus mayn And with lang sobbis furthȝettand teris invayn 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iii 517.
Gemitus, sobbis 1570 Sempill in Sat. P. xii 170.
With sychis, and sobbis, and beltit robbis, Ȝe counterfite the dule c1590 Fowler I 72/154.
When that Enceladus sighs, And brusteth furth his rageing sobbs from bouldned breast & lighs 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 319.transf. or fig. a1500 Henr. III 152/55.
This dia … is trest & trew, … that ȝe tak Sevin sobbis of ane selche [etc.] 1554 Knox III 125.
The inwarde man, with sobbes unto God, knowing the causes why the very just are sore troubled
b. A powerful breathing-in, as in a sob but without any implication of grief.1581-1623 James VI Poems I 115/5.
The aire I braith by longest sobbis [v.r. draughts]
2. A convulsive breath or the convulsive breathing, accompanying death.1513 Doug. ix vii 104.
And for the cald of deth hys lungis lap, With sobbys [L. singultibus] deip blawys with mony clap 1531 Bell. Boece II 62.
He gaif ane litill sobe, and deceissit 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 288.
For he had gevin ane long siche and sobe … And so he … randerit the spreit 1649 Last and Heavenly Speeches of Viscount Kenmuir 30.
He expired with long and strong fetches and sobs
