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: 1420, 1499-1686
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Spin(n)ing, Spyn(n)yng, vbl. n. Also: spynning, -ynge. [ME and e.m.E. spinningue (c1290), spinning (Chaucer), spynnynge (1393), spynnyng (1440).] The action of spinning in senses 1, 2 and 3 b of Spin v.(1) c1420 Wynt. iii 766.
He fand that drowy doude Amang a pak off karlynys … His yharne sponnyn resawand, And towe to spynyng [C. spynnynge, W. spynnyng] delyverand 1513 Doug. viii vii 93.
Lyke as the puyr wife … that hes nane other rent nor hyre Bot with hir rok and spynnyng [Sm. spynning] forto thryve 15.. Sym & Bruder 52.
Gif scho wes spedy ay in spynning 1546 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 121.
[Of this date, an act with reference to the pest was passed] anent spynning and cairding anent new infectioun 15.. Wyf of Auchtirmuchty 62.
Than hame he ran to ane rok of tow And he satt doun to say the spynning 1592 Edinburgh Testaments XXV 32b.
The hewit woll that is in spynning 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III 110.
The said maister salbe obleigit to furnish wool, kairdis, and wheillis for kairding and spynning 1673 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 48.
The … bailyies ordaines everie idle woman … to serve everie dayes spinning for tuell pennies Scots money 1686 New Mills Manuf. 135.
To teach such boyes and girles as shall be aproven and recomended … the true art and perfectione of spinning after the Hollands fashione … and they to have such pryces paid for ther spinning as is given to others for the lyke kynd … the Company are to furnish conveniently for spining(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 412.
Ane vedow dwelt in till ane drop thay dayis Quhilk wan hir fude off spinning on hir rok 1582–3 Elgin Rec. I 169.
Jannet Andersone … wes decernit to pay to Elspet Kanȝeoch nyn s. four d. for hir labour done … in spynning at the quheill(3) 1559 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 355.
For spynning of the hemp vj d. the pund, 24 s. 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III 110.
To pay … for kairding and spynning of ewery stane weycht of wool … fourtie schillings(4) 1650 Misc. 3 Spald. C. II 188.
Meill … Item to Elizabeth Burnes on her tickattis bestowed on spining web 7 bs.
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"Spining vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spinning>
