A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Maling, Malign(e, v. Also: malyng, mal(l)ign(n). [ME. (1426) malign(e, malygne intr., to inveigh, to plot (against), e.m.E. (1513) tr. to hate, resent, to grudge, (1647) to slander, OF. malignier, maliner, intr., to act wickedly or fraudulently, to deceive, tr., to scheme, plot.]
1. intr. To act wickedly or wrongfully, to do wrong, to err.a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 639 (Asl.).
Now throu syn sa blyndit is resoun, The mair of mercy, the ferrar we malyng [H. maligne] 1533 Boece ix. xvi. 329 b.
Nochttheles he malignit and gaif him to hunting, quhen vtheris to deuocioun went a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS. 260 b/45.
On that same sort scho did to me maling a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv. 123.
Jesabell wicked was, … Dalila did maling 1567 G. Ball. 56.
Thocht paip or king wald sa maling To mak the word of God forlorne 1567 Sat. P. vi. 124.
Eiect Ane cursit byke that cheiflie dois maling In Abirdene of sophistis the welspring Ib. vii. 172. c1590 J. Stewart II. 224 § 97.
Quho curssis him sall cursitlie maling
b. To plot, scheme, contrive (agane, aganis, contrare one).1518 Peebles B. Rec. I. 46.
Thai haue broukit thar saidis landis peceabilly ay sen syne quhil now laitly … the said Johne … beginnis of new to maligne aganis thame 1535 Stewart 8677.
How Dedius … Maliciouslie malingis agane me 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1715.
Grit princis to doun thring … Agane the trewth quhilk planely dois maling Ib. 2394. Ib. 3782. 1529 Id. Complaynt 267. c1552 Id. Mon. 2611. a1578 Pitsc. II. 85/22.
They … still mallignit aganis the Quene and Governour
2. a. intr. To speak disparagingly, to inveigh (aganis, contrar one etc.); to utter slander or abuse.(1) 1549 Compl. 30/31.
Parchance sum inuyful detrakkers vil maling contrar me, sayand [etc.] Ib. 33/26.
I haue herd diuers pepil regret, maling, and mak exclamations contrar the varld 1562-3 Winȝet I. 33/29. Ib. 61/34.
To maling contrar his conscience and instinct of the Holy Spirit 1570 Sat. P. xx. 146. 1579 Acts III. 175/2.
Sic as malignn aganis the treuth(2) 1580 Hume Promine L'envoy 15.
Gif, for all this, thay ceis not to maling … syne gif thay vilipend thé [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 71.
He malings, and vowes ther sould be graitter cause maid or anie forgiffnes cravit
b. tr. To vilify, traduce, decry, revile.a1568 Scott xi. 17.
Bot eftirwart and ȝe maling thame, Tressoun Ib. xxxi. 43.
Gife that this be Ane lyfe that all gude men malingis a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS. 288 a/103. c1590 J. Stewart II. 22/255.
Althocht scho me maling, I sall continew thyn vnto the deed 1609 Acts IV. 436/1.
Thair pasquillis … whereby they slander maligne and revile the people … of England
