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.
Tar(r)ying, vbl. n. Also: taryinge, tar(r)iing, tar(r)eing, tarey(i)ng, tarieng, tayreing, taryng, tar(r)ing, tairing. [ME and e.m.E. tariynge (1340-70), tariȝynge (c1350), teryynge (Prompt. Parv.), tarying (1445), taryng (a1450), tarienge (1535).]
1. The action of Tar(r)y v., delaying, delay, hesitation, procrastination, esp. but (withoutin) tarying. = Tar(r)y n. 1. Also proverb.(a) 1375 Barb. x 126 (C).
Schir Alexander … send tretis to the king And com his man [but] tarying a1400 Leg. S. vi 512.
Taryinge a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 304.
He prayt thame that thai … lat hyme frely pase his gat But tarying or debat c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2556.
Taryinge ?14.. Ship Laws c. 18 (H2).
But ony delay or tarying 1460 Hay Alex. 3666.
And ay fechtand held thame in tarying Quhill thai sould haue sum tythingis of the king a1500 Henr. Fab. 1000 (Bann.).
Tareying a1500 Henr. Fab. 2269.
This tarying wyll tyne thé all thy thank c1475 Wall. iii 265.
Yhe mon tak pes, with out mar taryng a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 636 (Asl.).
Till inclyne Thar hart to God but tedious tarying 1513 Doug. vi xiv 101.
Fabius [sc. ‘Cunctator’, the delayer] Quhilk … throu thy slycht and tareyng [Sm. tareing, Ruddim. tarying] Restoris the common weill of our ofspryng c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xx 16.
And Paule purposit to schip ouir to Ephesie, that na tarijng war made to him in Asie 1535 Stewart 20358.
Tareing a1578 Pitsc. I 215/28.
The pledgis … chaipit narowlie be ressone of the lang tairing of the said captane 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI 246.
I think my departeur shal be als hastie as his taring was longsum 1596 Dalr. II 395/19.
Tarieng(b) 1607 Crim. Trials II 542.
The Deuill … reprovet the said Beigis Tod … for hir lang tayreing; to quhome scho maid this ansuer, Sir, I could wyn na sonerproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 930.
Lang tarriing [1641 tarrying, 1706 tarrowing; a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1026, tarring] taks al the thanks away
2. Remaining, staying (in (at) a place); absenting oneself (fra something).1595–6 Misc. Spald. C. V 62.
Expensis in tareing heir in this toune upone the resaitt of his majesties tochir 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 42.
Johne Millikin … was accusit for commovn tareing fra the preiching 1649 Hist. Fam. Seton 659.
My Ladie Calendar her tarreing at home upone the Lordis day and not coming to the kirk
