Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Handline,) Handlyne, Handling, n. Also: handeling, handilling. [Hand n.; Line n., Ling n.; cf. Grete lyne, Greitling etc. In the mod. northern dialects as handlin.] A fishing-line, managed by the hand, for taking fish from the bottom of deep water; fishing with such a line. 1576 Orkney Oppress. 66.
Thai had libertie … to fisch … with small lyne, gritlyne, or handlyne 1594 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 218.
Quhen the saidis boittis sall happin to pas to the … handillingis 1625 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I. 149.
Thrie buchtis of lynes, … ane handling

b. Freq. attrib. in handlyne bot, etc., handling cobill, a small boat for hand-line fishing. Also handling-stane, a stone sinker for a hand-line. 1471 Edinb. Chart. 133.
Of ilk dreg bot and handlyne bot cummand in with fisch … a penny 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 75.
He leuis the handilling bait to remane still in the hous 1590 Ib. XXII. 200 b.
Ane handeling bait 1603 Reg. Great S. 515/2.
Ilk dregboitt and small handlingboit [ed. handbugboit] 1632 Edinb. Test. LVI. 36 b.
Ane handling cobill 1674 Ib. LXXV. 41.
Ane handling boat … , the halfe of ane handling boat — 1503 Shetland Sheriff Ct. 76 b.
Jacareas Neis is tryit to have stollin ane handling stane fra James Spens