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.
(Thortourand,) Thorturing, Thartering, Thortring, Thorstering, Thwartring, vbl. n. [Late ME and e.m.E. thuartinge (c1430), twartynge (c1440), thwarting (1581); Thorto(u)r adv. (etc.)]
1. An instance of crossing over or criss-crossing; entwining.1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vi 27.
Inextricabilis error, plexitas viarum unde nemo se explicare potest (thwartring of gaittis ganging throw uther)
b. Cross-harrowing.1699 Belhaven Rudiments 8.
And after it is so plowed, you must harrow it well by thortering, that is to harrow cross the ridges
2. = Thorto(u)r n. 2.1638 Johnston Diary I 369.
After great disputing and thortrings Mr. Arch. Fleming and tuo doctors subscryved simply 1642 Justiciary Cases II 473.
And that in the meane tyme of the thorstering at the buird Gilbert Mowat and John Nevene war sitting at the fyre syde
3. Clashing or conflicting with (something). Cf. Thort v., Thorto(u)r v. 2.?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadful Alarms 14.
This may be the matter of our mourning, that thorturing with light is like to be Scotlands plague ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadful Alarms 14 (see Thortour v. 2).
Thorturing ?1672 M. Bruce Sermon in Edinb. Tolbooth 13.
There is much thortering and murdering in Scotland, but thortering with light shall be the warisomest sin that ever Scotland medled with
