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.
Quotation dates: 1456-1499, 1567-1700+
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Sweting, Sweiting, vbl. n. Also: swetting, suet(t)ing, -in, sweit(t)ing, sueit(t)ing, swaitting. [ME and e.m.E. swæting (Layamon), swetynge (c1400), sweatynge (1551), swettynge (1563), sweating (1585); Swete v.]
1. The action of producing sweat, esp. after exertion or as a symptom of disease.Also with reference to Christ's sweating blood (Swete v. 2).(1) 1456 Hay II 144/16.
For syk governaunce restoris agayn that thou has tynt in sueting a1568 Maitland in Bannatyne MS 13b/167.
Thy eitting and sweitting Is turnd to wo and pyne a1568 Bannatyne MS 72a/6.
Vse bissines but sair sweiting 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 12.
Stinkand sueiting 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 14.
Principall signis of dethe in pestilentiall personis ar frequent swoning, cauld sweiting, vomitting [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 146/10.
Efter sik heit, in sueiting, trauel, and fechteng, al war … forfochtne 1608 Criminal Trials II 543.
His sone, … vanischet away with vehement sueiting and continuall burning at the heart 1622 Criminal Trials III 524.
Sueitting is ane naturall purgatioun(2) a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 947 (Asl.).
The son of God … In bludy sweting [Harl. suetting, Arund. sueit] he prayit for our offens
b. A fit or episode of sweating; a state of sweatiness.(1) 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 89.
The barn … becom als wak as ane pair of glwffis and meltit continualie away with ane extraordinar swetting 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 111.
He immediatle tuik ane gryt trimbling and cauldnes, with ane extreme gryt swaitting 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI 49.
All his cattell and beist took such a sweiting that they caist the hair(2) 1460 Hay Alex. 16541.
Ȝoure-selff is werry ȝoure hors in a sweting
c. A disease characterised by sweating. Cf. Swet(e n.2 3 b.a1605 Montg. Flyt. 317 (H).
The powlings, the palsie … The swerfe and the sweiting, with sounding to swelt
d. The action of inducing sweating by taking a (? Turkish) bath.1704 Foulis Acc. Bk. 340.
For sweiting in the balnes [£3]
2. = Swet(e n.2 2.1490 Irland Mir. III 12/3.
And in na vthir liquor may be ministerit this sacrament [sc. baptism] nouthir in wyne aill … vryn brv [= broth] spittin suettin [etc.]
3. The action of obtaining some commodity by heating the substance containing it to the point of melting or evaporation. Cf. Swete v. 8.1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II 512.
The haill gold and silver that salbe recoverit be sweting, melting, affynning or utherwayis of the said copper and leid ure 1683 Lauder Observes 105.
A litle printed pamphlet, … teaching the art of straining, boiling, and sueiting salt waters
