A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stragling, vbl. n. [e.m.E. stragling (1601); Stragill v.] Of soldiers: The action of straying from one's company, wandering off from the line of march. —1688 Peebles B. Rec. II 126.
The proveist [etc.] … considdering the imminent hazard … through the stragling of papists and others, quhairby the toun may be in hazard, have thought fitt to appoint the toun to be gaurded
