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 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Overrin, v. Also: overrun, overrine, ovirrin. P.t. overran, -runne. P.p. overrunnyng, overrun, ovirrwne, owirrunne. [North. and east midl. ME. ouerrenne (Cursor M.), -ryn, p.p. -ronnene (c 1420), e.m.E. (16th c.) ouerrun, p.p. -ronne, -rowne, ME. also ouereornen (c 1230), -erne, OE. oferyrnan, p.t. oferarn. Cf. Rin v. and Ourrin v. Also in the mod. dial.]

1. tr. To ride over or traverse (a country etc.) as a hostile force and so harry or ravage it. 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 54 (Ruddim.).
God grant … thay [sc. cities] be … neuer eft with Grekis force ouerrunnyng 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 33.
Euerie lord … tholit the Inglismen and thevis to overrin this realme 1613 Highland P. III. 126.
He … had … ovirrwne ane grit pairt of thre or foure schrefdomeis

2. To knock down and crush (a person) to the ground with the horse or vehicle one is riding or driving, to run down, run over. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 224.
The nobilities horsmen … fled vnto … thaj come to thair awne futemen, quha … pairtlie owirrunne with thair awne horsmen … wer compellit to giue bakkis 1648 J. Hope Diary 146.
Some children being in the way thereabout, he overrunne ane of them with one of the wheeles

3. To subject to tyranny, to tyrannise over, oppress. a1578 Pitsc. I. 19/1.
Vndir the collour of quhais [sc. the King's] authoritie he over ran evirie man lyk ane … tyrane c1650 Spalding I. 284.
All sort of people who wold not sueir and subscrive the covenant, … wes grevouslie overrun and oppressit

4. To run faster than, outrun, outstrip. 1596 Dalr. I. 91/3.
Swiftnes of fute, in quhilke thay [the Scots] walde ouirrin the swoftest horse a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. 121.
Schir yow must run faster then I for sho [a hare] did overrun me already

5. intr. To exceed a total, to be extra. 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 204/20.
The thre dayes, quhilkis do ouerrine in 402 yeres being subduceit from the formair thre hundereth yeres, the æquinoxe sowld remane [etc.]