A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1520-1637, 1688-1699
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,1,1]
Telling, vbl. n. [ME and e.m.E. telling (14th c.); Tel(l v.] The action of the verb in senses 1, 7 and 9. a. The relating or announcing of (a narrative, etc.); the telling of (lies, etc.). b. The foretelling of (a future event, etc.). c. The counting of (goods, money, etc.). Also fig. The reckoning of one's sins. Also transf. Something countable, force, value.a. c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 St. John i 5.
And this is the telling [Vulg. annunciatio] that we herde of him, and tellis to you, that God is licht c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 199.
First he set … a proloug … And quhen he has set it befoire, he cummis to the telling. Bot befoir his telling [etc.] 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 108.
Being … delaitit … of making of lesingis and telling of thame c1610 Melville Mem. 293.
The telling of the treuthb. 1590–1 Criminal Trials I ii 231.
To be … convict, of foir-knawlege and telling be hir witchcraft, that Williame Markestoune … was bot ane deid manc. 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII 217.
To the pynouris … for telling and laying togidder of the … dalis 1563 Protocol Book of J. Drummond 57a.
Eftir the numeracioun and telling thairof he deliu[er]it the samyn some 1611 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II 327.
In respect of the … fraude … vsit in telling of hering … the said burgh … to mak … ane sufficient number of mets … quhilk … sall … conteine … tua hunder greyne hering, and swa, insteid of telling, all heyring to be mett thairwith 1624 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III 157.
Fraud … in the telling of the yairne 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 180.
Christ, with all His little ones … shall … not lose one. An odd one cannot, nor shall, be lost in the telling a1699 Skene Agric. MS.
The twentie fyft sheiff is the prooff first telling 1688 E. Fife Admir. Depute Ct. Bk. 28 July.
That noe persone … profaine the holy sabbath … by … selling metting telling gutting or salting of herringsfig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 35.
Your counts are many, and will take telling and laying and reckoning betwixt you and your Lordtransf. 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I 188.
There is much telling in Christ's kindness
