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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Flitting, Flytting, vbl. n. Also: flyttyng, flittinge, flittin, fliting. [e.m.E. and ME. flitting (a 1300), f. Flit v.]

1. Articles or goods removed or carried. c1420 Wynt. viii. 5694.
The schip-men sone in the mornyng Tursyt on twa hors thare flyttyng c1475 Wall. i. 396.
All this [fish] … sall in our flytting ga 1582 Colville Lett. 4.
The Erle of Argyle is passed out of Court with his haill flittinge 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 145.
Those who would take the world and all their flitting on their back and run away from Christ 1662 Highland P. III. 15.
His father … was comeing with three horse load of flittings throw a fald

2. Removal of a thing or person from one place to another. 1525 Stirling B. Rec. I. 22.
The said Sir Allexander … to be excludit in tyme to cum fra ony flittin … of the said gavill 1550–51 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For flitting of the bar, iij s. viij d. 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 132.
The flitting of the foir face of the south trevice 1576 Orkney Oppress. 60.
Thai war bot thrysse in the ȝeir wount with flitting and furing 1600 Reg. Great S. 352/1.
Cum lie flitting et furing aliisque servitiis consuetis

3. Removing to another place of residence. a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 7.
Fooles are fain of flitting 1693 Foulis Acc. Bk. 157.
To workmen at our fliting

4. Flitting Friday, the Whitsuntide removal day. 1536 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. v.
On Fryday befor the said feste of Witsounday callit flitting Fryday 1548 Inchcolm Chart. 90.
And als at [ȝe] pas on flittinfryday and do the samyn 1556 Prot. Bk. T. Dalrymple 29 b.
The said Johne … sall remayne still in the said toft and croft quhill the nyxt flitting Fryday 1560 Inverness B. Rec. I. 44.
The taxation of fyf schillingis … for ewyrre day send the flitting Friday last bypast