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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Tristing,) Trysting, vbl. n. Also: trysing. [Trist(e v.]

1. The action of arranging a meeting, an agreement or appointment to meet. 15.. Clar. ii 460.
Clariodus … bad me say … That in schort tyme he sould ȝour beawtie see, And heir ar letteris that he … bad me … present … quhen scho had witting Of all his trysting and of his cuming [etc.] a1633 W. Struther True Happiness 79.
Since He keepeth both time and place of trysting, let us not be so ingrate as not to meet with Him

b. Soliciting or frequenting the company of others for companionship or conviviality. 1473 Edinb. B. Rec. I 27.
Gif ony prenteis rynis or passis away fra his maister throw wantounnes, trysting of freindis or wtherwayes 1605 Ellon Presb. 54.
[Mr. Gardyne is too fond of the public house … of playing at cards and rattling the dice-box, and] civill trysting

c. Frequenting trysts or livestock markets. 1622 Fife Synod 96 (see Trister n. 2).
Trysting

2. a. A meeting arranged for the purpose of negotiation towards the settlement of a dispute. b. The action of negotiating such a settlement; arbitration, negotiation. 1576 Douglas Corr. 214.
I wald the mater had bene sa handillit amangis thame than, as it suld not have bene neidfull to cum to ony farder trysting 1598 Gunn Cross Kirk, Peebles 57.
Not to proceed, … as the matter is under trysting, till they see what effect it will take 1600 Misc. Spald. C. II 286.
At quhilk tyme of our meiting at Deir I resavit sic notable wrang as I think few or nane haif sene the lyk done vnder trysting withowt any dischairge 1603 Moysie 61.
It is the custome of Scotland that gif the meanest gentleman that hes his kynsman … murthored enter in trysing with the committeris freindis the offeris ar maid be the committeris of the deed 1611 Crim. Trials III 123.
Johnne Weir … causit certane freindis travell with him and to cum in trysting and to meit at Monharig to cowmone thairupone; and affixt the sevint day of November … : Lyk as the said vmquhile Johnne Hammiltoun for keiping of the said tryst [etc.] 1640 Baillie I 276.
In our treatie, we prefaced with a declaration in wryte, that our trysting there was no submission to the Inglish parliament c1650 Spalding I 52.
Fra that tyme he wes not publictlie sein, … yit … young Ballindallache and he wes quyetlie wnder trysting vnknowne to any 1656 Conv. Burghs III 418.
If they sall come to ane trysting or agreement with the saidis possessouris 1660 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 49.
The matters of offices and ordinances, which ought to be of Christ's appointment admit not of a latitude to come and go upon: which they suppose, who by way of trysting, give commissions and condescensions in the matter of episcopacy, and the Service-book 1664 Decis. Lords G. 88.
As to the new bond, it was granted under trysting and for fear of prison … the suspender being surprised in this case by the act of warding under trysting 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 571.
The said Earle of Cathnes his freinds [etc.] … conceaving themselves in security be the said trysting have not as yet past ther remission the sealls 1677 Corshill Baron Ct. 137.
Anent the actione formerlie intented [etc.] … the judge … findeing thair wes trysting betwixt parties to referr to parties … and if they could not setle them the persuer wes to persue him as he thocht fitt [etc.]

c. To put (a person or thing) in (to, under) trysting, to submit to arbitration or negotiation. 1607 Peebles Gleanings 9.
The haill persones … being askit … quhidder they sould submit with the laird of Gledstanes … concerning thair heritage they ansuerit … thai wald not grant nor consent to putt the toun's heritage in trysting. Thairefter the haill counsall … is resolvit heirefter na wayes to submitt thair heritage to trysting 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 258.
I have joy in this, that I would not refuse death before I put Christ's lawfull heritage in men's trysting 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 332.
I never purposed to bring Christ or the least … hair-breadth of truth, under trysting

d. attrib. With place, terms. Chiefly fig. and in fig. context.See also Trist n.¹ 2 for a further example.(1) a1633 W. Struther True Happiness 115.
Wee come to the sanctuarie … the Lords trysting place 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 443.
Lord grant that that may be the trysting-place! a1652 Dickson Psalms I 46.
The incarnation of the Son of God, in whom, as the onely mediator, is the trysting place between God and beleevers a1652 Dickson Psalms I 58.
Christ is the trysting place where God is constantly to be found on his mercy seat a1659 W. Guthrie Christians Gt. Interest (1724) ii viii.
A fit trysting-place for God and men to meet into(2) a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 218.
Yet we think that the Lord is in trysting-terms with them, which maketh Him thus, out of love to continue and knock

3. The action of appointing, arranging for, ordering (something, or someone to do something). 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E. 16.
The said Mr. Nicoll convict … as ane falser in airt and pairt withe the said Schir James … and trysting of the said Schir James to mak the samin in his fauour 1657 Cramond Kirk S. I 15 Feb.
This day Jean Cranstoun and Katharine Barton her daughter put ane end to thair satisfaction for thar fault in trysting James Gray and the other Katharine Barton to meit together 1675 Cunningham Diary 53.
To James King, maisson, at my trysting him to build a leaping-on-stone at Kilb 1699 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV 465.
Doctor Sinclair, President of the College of Physicians … having deprived Doctors Stevenson … and some others … from being members of that society … they … apply to the Lords by petition, representing that the trysting their deprivation at this time was most iniquous and fraudulent

4. a. The coming together, coinciding (of two or more things). b. The action of causing (things) to coincide.a. a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 59.
The trysting of providences is to be observed; as, the rise of the call, if it proceed from no natural or carnal end? If no other door be opened elswhere to him who is called, he may the more warrantably step in thereb. 1651 Johnston Diary II 104.
Lykas that the Lord had stopped this merch til He should first discountenance this assembly's proceidings by trysting His testimonyes with His servants' agaynst them

5. That which befalls one; (an) affliction, ordeal. 1649 Last and Heavenly Speeches of Viscount Kenmuir 16.
I would not have you to drown yourself so much with trysting and fasheries of this world 1659 A. Hay Diary 44.
I … heard Mr. Patrick Andersone lecture on Isa. 30. 10. … That whatever be Christians trystings in this world they have no reason to be discouraged