A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wring, Wryng, v.1 Also: vring, wringin, wrink. P.t. wrang(e. P.p. wronge, wringd. [ME and e.m.E. wringe(n (a1225), wrynge(n (Piers Plowman), p.t. wrong (c1250), wrang (a1240), OE wringan.] tr.
1. To wring one's handis, to express one's sorrow, rage, etc. by clasping and twisting or squeezing the hands together; to lament. Also absol. b. transf. To twist or contort (the body) in an expression of sorrow.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 626.
One myn brest fast I dang, Ȝoland, & myn handis wrange 1460 Hay Alex. 18490.
The lordis weipit and thair handis wrang a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 770.
Schir Golograse for greif [= rage] … his handis can wryng a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1054.
Wyis wourthit for wo to wringin thair handis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1346.
His quene weiping & murning … Wringing hir hands(b) a1500 Henr. Orph. 131 (Bann.).
Half out of mynd, he … to wod cowth go, Wrinkand his handisabsol. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 57.
O lytill wrecch, allace! … Is it now tyme to wring? 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 53.
The wrach walis and wryngis for this warldis wrak a1568 Bann. MS 221b/25.
Vmquhill I lawche and quhill I weip and wringb. ?1438 Alex. ii 9600.
His neiffis for dule togidder he dang And all his body wraith and wrang
2. a. To twist or crush (something) so as to squeeze liquid, esp. water or juice (from it). b. transf. To twist or squeeze (a person) so as to injure or kill (him). Also fig. c. fig., absol. ? To cause (a person) sorrow or pain or ? a further example of a above.a. 1490 Irland Mir. III 134/10.
I reid of ane empriour that vsit his officiaris as a watter sponge … for quhen thai gaderit … riches … than he wrang the sponge and tuk the riches fra thame c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 438.
I haif a wattir spunge for wa … Than wring I it full wylely and wetis my chekis 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 496.
God is wringing grapes of red wine for Scotland 1662 Crim. Trials III 610.
And in the day tyme … to wring or swing the bagg [wpon the said Mr. Harie]b. 1513 Doug. iii ix 67.
Twa bodeys of our sort he [sc. Polyphemus] tuke and rayf Intil hys hyddus hand thame thrymlyt and wrangfig. c1590 Fowler I 192/12.
In vane conceate whils I am wringd and wrangdc. 1640 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 608.
Learn to be worthy of His pains who correcteth. And let Him wring, and be ye washen
3. To clasp or shake (a person's) hands, as a signal.1590 Crim. Trials I ii 197.
The signe … was, that the said Agnes Roy suld vring and greip their handis
4. fig. To wrench (meaning, authority, etc.) from (someone or something); const. backe, to regain or seize (something).c1590 J. Stewart 87/253.
Oft he red it contrarie to vring The veirray sentence from the mening trew 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 485.
Som privat persons, under cullor of religione, intend to wring the auctoritye from the King, and to sease on it for themselffis c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 129.
As had weell neere wronge backe the wictorie
