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.
Usin(g, Wsin(g, vbl. n. Also: usyng(e, useing, -yng, uising, wssing. [ME and e.m.E. vsynge (a1340), using (1387-8), vsyng (Wyclif), usyng (1452).]
1. The act of performing an action or activity or practising a mode of behaviour; an instance of this. (Us(e v. 1.)1570 Warrender P. (SHS) I 78.
I haiff taken occasion … to write to your lordship the mayr baldly in consideracioun off the good uising it pleased your lordship to schaw me and the courtesy I receaved at your hands quhen it wes my chanse to be in that court 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 127.
[The Scots] wille accepte no such offire [sc. of French aid] onles ȝour majestie refusyng ther amiable and reasonable requeste and offire and usynge of hostility aganist Scotland, do compelle them for there releife and supporte to recave strangers in there contrey 1581 Acts III 212/2.
The dregges of idolatrie ȝit remanis … be vsing of pilgramage [etc.] 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 232.
Fylit, for cuming to Bessie Aikenheid … and vsing hir prayer and dewelisch charmes for recovering of hir health to hir 1595–6 St. A. Kirk S. 814.
Jhone Ros, maister of the sang scole, … askit God mercy … for his using and playing of ane part of the comode and play in St. Leonardis College 1607 Crim. Trials II 526.
For ane commoune sorcerer and ane witche and abuser of the peple, be … vseing all devilleisch and vngodlie meanis to wyn hir leving 1622 Crim. Trials III 512.
As also be the hanting, vseing, and frequenting of the vnhappie socieatie … of the said witches 1650 Kingarth Par. Rec. 20.
Archibald McNeill … confessed the vseing of the charme following in Yrish
2. The action of carrying out the duties of an office or working at a trade. (Us(e v. 2.)1494 Acta Conc. I 337/1.
The excersing & vsing of the office of mare of feeschipis within the bailȝery of Cunyngham 1527 Dundee B. Laws 98.
The vsing of the office of collectorie of the haly bluid within the said brugh 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 7.
[The Council] … dischargis all the saidis masseris of all using of thair offices of masarie c1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 308.
Thair labouris … in the executioun and vsing of our said office of bailȝerie 1556 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 7 Jan.
Henry Cambell burgess … was accusit … for deforsin of Patrik Martyne, and Patrik Reidpeth, officiaris of the … burgh, in usin of thair said office 1578 Lanark B. Rec. 74.
William Wilkin requyrit the toun gef ony wes plenteis of him in his offece using this yeir last wes 1620 Aberd. Council Lett. I 186.
The said inhabitantis of Turreff hes never bene in peciable possessioun of using of ony kynd of merchandice
3. The action of putting the terms of a legal document into force. (Us(e v. 3.)1469 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 419.
I sall neuer … hendyr nothr let the saide Robert … in the vsyng of the saidis letteris of procuratory at the handis of oure souerane lorde the kyng 1574 Acts III 87/2.
All countirfaittaris of licencis to beg or vsing of the same knawing thame tobe countirfaitit 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 91.
The donators right being intimat long before the useing of the order, he could not be miskenned but ought to have been called therto
4. The taking of the sacrament. (Us(e v. 3 b.)a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 114/26.
First he biddis ane man exame hym self affor he be part takar of this blissit sacrament … quhilk vas neuer requirit affor the vsyng or rasauyng of ony sacrament
5. The action of using for sexual purposes. (Us(e v. 5 e.)a1578 Pitsc. I 383/8.
The king … became insolent and wnmyndfull of Godis benifeittis … bot rather [regairdit] his awin plesour and sencewall lustis in wsin of his [awin body and] particular effairis
6. The act of using an article, means of doing something, etc. Also an instance of this. (Us(e v. 5.)1515 Treas. Acc. V 46.
For using of speris, axis, halbertis, bowis, and culveringis 1562-3 Winȝet I 84/32.
Gif ȝe nothir affirm Christe realie thair præsent … nor ȝet keipis the ceremonie in the vseing [MS vseyng] of ane breid and ane coup, quhou vndirstand ȝe that is writtin be St. Paull a1578 Pitsc. I 350/33.
Than the consall of the clargie gaif sentance wpoun him to be bruntt for the wssing of the samin book, the new testament in Inglische 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV 298.
In using and josing of his gaittis and passageis to and fra his heuch of Badrig for convoying of the coillis and watter fra the same 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 419.
Seing that the Sabboth day is now commounlie violat … be halding and keiping of the saidis mercattis and fairis on Sondayis, useing of handie labour and workeing thairon as on the remanent dayis of the oulk, and be gamming and playing [etc.] 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V 132.
The said baillies … discharges the said Jeilles of all using and weiring the present busk of ane honest burges wyfe induring the townis will 1622-6 Bisset II 170/24.
He wes put in prisone for nocht using of guid counsall eftir thair adverteisment 1629 Justiciary Cases I 138.
The saidis feveris left him … and nocht be ony virtew that was in the nettill or useing thairof 1638 Baillie I 154.
His useing of massie crucifixes in his chamberpl. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 9b.
The quhilk interdictione beand execut no deversitie in vsingis betuix tham salbe apprehendit
7. The act of occupying a piece of land, etc. or enjoying a privilege, etc. (Us(e v. 6.)1453 Stirlings of Keir 226.
In the brouking, hafyng, vsing, and joysing of al the forsaid landis 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 100.
Andro, Bischop of Murray, suld ceis of al using of the sade regalite … ay and quhil that he producit mare richtis til bere for him to the sammyn 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 114.
For the wrangus occupacione, lauboring and using of the Watter of Finderne … and for the wrangus detencione and withhalding fra thame of the fisch and proffittis of the sade fisching 1498 Acta Conc. II 185.
For the wrangus troubling and inquieting of him, his tennandis and factouris of the troubling and using of his possessione of the myln of Lathreis 1500–1 Acta Conc. II 487.
[For] usurping and using of the fredomes and previlegis of the sade burgh in buying of skinnis, hydis, salmond, yrne and uthir merchandice 1520 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 58.
Wolle Wynterhop accusit be the haill communite of using [MS wsing] and hanting yerlie of the townis fredom and forstallyn of the burges and fremen 1562 Crim. Trials I i 342.
In the peceable brouking, joising, vsing, intrometting and disponing vpoune … the foirnemmit reuersionis
8. The act of treating a person in a particular way, treatment, handling. (Us(e v. 9 c.)1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 260.
The said compleaner lived onelie by the benevolence of her freinds, seing she can gett nothing upoun credite, becaus she is involved in more debt nor she can pay upoun the said Patrik his thus mischant useing of her
