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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.

Metting, vbl. n. Also: -inge, -yn(g, -eing, -in, -ein, -eyne. [f. Met v. Cf. Meting vbl. n.²]

1. The action of measuring.a. As to capacity. Also measuring out. Cf. Met v. 1 and 1 b. b. As to dimension. Cf. Met v. 2. c. Verification of the accuracy of a measure. Cf. Met v. 1 c.For further examples see Metstar n.a. (1) 1425 Acts II. 10/2.
And at the sellaris na nane of thare behalf entermete thaim in the metting of sic gudis 1534 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 118.
Tuecheyng the wrangus metteyne of thair stuffis batht of stok and mwtter 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 72.
To serve to the metting of the aipills and ingyeouns brocht in at … Leyth 1598 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 52.
That they … exact no mor dewty for the metting of a criell of coalls nor ane penny 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 51.
Isobell Colveill … to haif sauld corn [etc.] … and to haif flittin for the metting of it on the saboth day 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 5.
Metteing 1650 Peebles Gleanings 305. 1679 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 25 a (see Mester).(2) 1688 Reg. Privy S. 3 Ser. XIII. 369.
Payit to metsters … in metting out 3396 bolls meallb. 1469 Acts II. 95/2. 1495 Halyb. 89.
Mettin 1500 Ib. 264.
Mettyn 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 121. 1576 Orkney Oppress. 27.
Anent the wrang of the mettein of the wadmell 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 213.
Metting and mesvring … of plaiding 1593–4 Ayr B. Acc. 180.
[For mending the kirk ladder and] metting [the slate, £1] 1625 Justiciary Cases I. 31.
Ane measour … quhilk hes bene and is ane forme of metting of that kynd of claith 1635 Aberd. Council Lett. II. 39.
The partie seller shall have the metting of the plaiding 1650 Ib. III. 177.c. 1556 Carte Northberwic 73.
In metting or mesuryng of ther stopis and vechtis

d. Measurement of land: cf. Met v. 2 b. 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 465.
To Andro Wod, that he laid doun for metting of the mure beside the New Havin 1559 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 67.
The land … thay fand be thair metting bot thre akyrs, thre ruyd [etc.] 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 314.
Fynalie the said superintendent desyrit gentillie that he wald suffer it to be mett, and said the metting tuik nane of the land away 1575 Rec. Earld. Orkney 137. 1589 Glasgow Burgesses 18.
In measuring and metting of certaine aikeris [etc.] 1598–9 Ayr B. Acc. 197. 1607 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 35.
Thair wald have been na sichting of marchis nor metting of land thair that day 1615 Reid Auchterarder 62.
Efter mature advysment and metting with cordis the said tenement —1620 Kirkcudbright B. Rec. II. 250 (see Lining vbl. n.²). — 1624 Huntar Weights & Measures Sub-title.
The art of metting measuring & compting all sort of land with diverse tables 1677 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 89.
Ane meitting … for metting and evining of the mailling lands

e. Measuring (as to dimension) in the process of casting a spell. Cf. Metin(g vbl. n.² b, and Met p.p. 1 b, Mete v.² b. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 190.
He is indytit to haue passit … throuch the said Alexander his corne and, haueing gaine nyne space, metting the corne with ane quhyt wand … sua na thing grew that yeir bot fichakis 1649 Kelso Presb. Rec. in Berw. Nat. C. V. 335.
[Tibbie Thomson in Morebattle confesses] charming and metting of the belt

2. = Mettag(e n. 1 b. 1603 Reg. Great S. 515/1.
All … custumes of the said burgh … with weyage and mettinge in the said burgh

3. What a thing measures; its measurement or capacity etc. ascertained by measuring. 1596 Glasgow Prot. V. xiv.
Half ane barrell of aill … extending to vj gallonis half gallon … quhat it hes les referris to the mettyng of the barrell