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.
Sporting, vbl. n. [e.m.E. sportyng (1483), sporting (1581); Sport v.]
1. The action of Sport v. 1, the act of amusing oneself by an activity; amusement, entertainment, recreation.?1438 Alex. ii 3878.
‘Gif I mak gammin,’ said Fesonas, ‘That is for sporting and solas’ a1500 Prestis of Peblis 500.
This nobil king Vnto ane cietie raid for his sporting a1500 Bk. Chess 32.
Sum in till hunting has thair hale delyte And vthersum … Gois to the riall sporting of the ches 1533 Boece 458.
Makbeth and Banquho … ane day about the feildis in sporting, passing thare tyme 1535 Stewart 27612.
Oft syis thair cumis grit plentie Of gold and riches … Of meit and drink, with sporting and plesance 15.. Clar. iv 327.
The countes to hir in sporting did say [etc.] 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 227.
Mr. Duncan Frissall … was slaine be ane vther of thair owin men in thair sporting; who, meitting vther with a certane cumpany, made the maner of a skyrmise, and so ane having a peice charged, not knowing a bullet to be in it, shot the foirsaid that he deid 1639 Fugitive Poetry xvii 102.
All those torturing tossings Which I have tryde, I laught them ou'r as sportings
2. The action of Sport v. 3; flirtation, dalliance.1674 Kingarth Par. Rec. 92.
Patrick McKaw … is ordained … to acknowledge that if his sporting with Agnes NcKaw gave her … offence he is sorry for it
