A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sorning, vbl. n. Also: sornyng, sorne-, sorening, soirning. [Sorn(e v.] The action or practice of extorting free quarters and provisions; an instance of this. Also pl.(a) c1460 Regim. Princ. 75 (Marchm.).
In hunting and in sornyng thai thé send On lordis and on abbayis heir and thair 1484 Grant Chart. 36.
The said parteis sall … diffend ilkain vthiris rowmis … fra sorning, thigging, oppressione, and stouth 1499 Exch. R. XI 443.
Sornyng 1533 Boece 340.
Inveterate sornyng amang the commons 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 150. 1550 Crim. Trials I i 356.
For common oppression and sorning upon the lieges, forcing and compelling them to pay black-mail 1570 Leslie 137.
That none suld be suffered to … go in sorning 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 399.
Crymes sic as … sorning be maisterfull begging 1576 Orkney Oppress. 42.
In sorning or skafrie, to our utter wrak and heirschip 1636 Bk. Dunvegan I 183.
Considering that the lawis of this kingdome prohybittes the former abuse of sorneing and cudeachis c1650 Spalding I 4.
Syne [they] fell in sorning … taking thair mete and food perforce quher thay culd not get it willingly 1667 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 198.
The crimes of … sorning and taking black maill … are punishable by death 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 100.
Anguis dow Macky … entered Cathness with great hostility … not only in sorening, but depredation and plunder 1685 Wodrow Hist. IV (1828) 288.
The sorning upon, harassing, and destroying the best parts of the country by four extraordinary circuits upon one and the same subject of Bothwell-bridge(b) 1555 Reg. Privy S. IV 541/1.
For soirning committit upoun tennentis of the Bray of Caithnes 1564–5 Reg. Great S. 369/1. 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 277.
To oppress the cuntrie with maisterfull reif, soirning and daylie oppressioun 1592 Grant Chart. 181. 1603 Crim. Trials II 415.
For commoun soirning 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 123.
Diverse and sindrie beggaris … and vacaboundis … ar enterit within this contrie … of purpose to be sustenit in soirning upoun the victuall quhairupoun the puir pepill … leiff 1623 Melrose P. 536.
Haueing apprehendit vmquhill Duncane … in the verie fact of thift and soirningpl. 1563–4 Reg. Privy C. I 257.
Diverse slauchteris, reiffis, heirschippis, sornyingis, and oppressionis 1563–4 Reg. Privy C. I 271.
Colin Campbell … sall ansuer him self for the samyn crymes, sornyngis, oppressionis, and offencis 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 421.
Brokin men, committing oppin reiffis, privie stouthis, slauchteris, mutilatiounis, soirningis, and utheris insolencyis
