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.
Sounding, vbl. n.1 Also: sownding, swndying. [ME and e.m.E. sownyng(e (Trevisa), soundynge (Prompt. Parv.), sowndynge (c1450), sounding (1560); Sound v.1]
1. The act of causing a musical instrument to emit sound; specif., ringing (of a bell), blowing (of a trumpet).1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 396.
Be conuocatioun of our said communitie be the swndying of the bell 1613 Inverness Rec. II 118.
Befoir the leving of the sounding and knelling of the third bell c1650 Spalding II 206.
There wes hard, … beatting of drums, … sounding of trvmpetis, [etc.]
2. The nature or quality of a vocal or instrumental sound, as regards pronunciation, timbre, pitch, etc. Also pl.c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. xiv 7.
Tha thingis that ar without saule and gevis voces, outhir pipe, outhir harpe, bot tha geve distinctioun of soundingis [P. sownyngis], how sal it be knawne that is sungin, outhir it that is harpit? c1550-c1580 Art of Music 34b.
Gif arsis in the sing salbe changit, it dois exalt the voce depressit. Heirfor quhair vther in vther to sownding is commandit c1590 Fowler II 29/2.
The 20. ȝeir maister thinking the verse to haue a good trot, & sophing them rather by thair sounding, nor scansing them be iust measure
3. In medicine: The diagnostic technique of auscultation or listening to the sounds produced by certain internal organs of the body, as a means of determining their condition.1688 Duncan Glasg. Physic. & Surg. 245.
His dexterite and success in cutting of the stone, as also sounding with great facilitie
