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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.

Having, Hawing, vbl. n. Also: havyng, -inge, -in, hawyng, -eing, haiving. [ME. having, possessing (c 1325), havyngys, manners (c 1450, rare).]

1. Bearing, behaviour, deportment.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 246.
The kyng has seyn all thair hawyng [E. hawing] c1400 Troy-bk. I. 305.
The commowns … thar hawyng lowyt c1460 Thewis Wysmen 82.
Thar hawing … Settis thaim weill in euer-ilk thinge a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 125.
Persawing my hawing(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 2422.
Hir sweit countenance and hir hauing Ib. 5271.
Wyse and wele taucht in all having c1460 Consail Wys Man 397.
Fra fulys ferys and thar havinge Thow kep the weil 1513 Doug. x. vii. 15.
Quhilk maner hauyng is … remedy at sik a neid 15.. Clar. v. 840.
Scho so steidfast was in hir having

b. With qualifying adj., esp. fair or gude. a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 213.
Thu, that is … but pere of … fason far and gud hawyng c1420 Wynt. iv. 1978.
He may be callyd a gentill man That wertu and fayr hawyng can ?1438 Alex. ii. 2001.
He is … of fare hauing, gude and gay Ib. 6903.
Of gentill corps and gude hauing a1500 Seven S. 1881.
Thar carpit Cato to the king Clerkly and with faire having c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 9.
Hir sweit having and fresche bewte Ib. xlvi. 50.
Quhy put God so grit bewte In ladeis, with sic womanly having? 15.. Clar. iv. 210.
Thay hir lovit … For hir meiknes and womanlie having

c. pl. Modes of behaviour; manners. (Chiefly with adjs.) c1460 Wisd. Sol. 387.
The wisdome of a wysman schawis by his contenans, part and hawyngys of body and wysage 1490 Irland Mir. I. 163/18.
His luking, his ganging, and all his havingis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. II. 387.
The merie speiche, fair hauingis … , Of thame 1526 Acts II. 312/1.
Vnprofitable and vnvertuous havingis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 32.
To lerne lawis, gud havingis, and maneris Ib. 129.
With sic courtlie maneris and havingis 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 68.
His gude manneris and hawyngis in tymes cuming a1578 Pitsc. I. 163/13.
Ane man … gentill in all his haweingis and maneris

d. Dolorous having(is), signs of suffering. 1456 Hay II. 119/37.
[They] oft tymis has felloun passioun in thair wame … with dolorous having 1531 Bell. Boece I. 66.
Cadall … quhais dolorus havingis war sa petuous, that every man had compassioun thairof c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv. 109.
With humbill hart and hawingis dolorous

2. Having, possessing, keeping. 1483 Acta Aud. *111/1.
Henry Petkarne, quhilk grantis the having of the said gudis 1549 Banff Ann. I. 24.
The inbringing and having … of gudes vpoun the commone pastoring 1610 Crim. Trials III. 83.
Quhilk band the said Erle … hes confest the ressauing and haveing thairof 1670 Melrose Reg. Rec. II. 255.
The said defender confest the haiving theroff

3. Taking, removing. 1449 Acts II. 37/1.
At thar be maid … straite sercharis to restrenȝe the having out of the mone[y] 1506 Reg. Soltre 159.
For the having of the litill bell to Striueling 1516 Edinb. Hammermen 91 b.
To the pynoris for havin away of the punciouns & rauchteris 1559 Inverness B. Rec. I. 37.
The hawing of barkit ledyr to Coan fayr