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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sorn(e, v. Also: soirn, sorrin. [Sorthyn n. Also in the later dial.]

1. intr. To exact free quarters and provisions, usu. with the implication of aggressive and threatening behaviour.(a) 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 163.
I … began to reif, steale, oppres and sorne with sindrie lymmaris c1575 Balfour Pract. 24.
That na persounis heirefter ludge nor sorne in housis … pertening to religious … men, to the harme, hurt, or destructioun of thame; or of thair guidis and geir 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. 19.
Beggeris of woll, fisch and cornis of honest rank that repairis and sornis thruch the cuntrey 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 96.
The Baliol proud, … through the country mightily did sorne 1645 Strathbogie Presb. 62.
Some two or three hundreth highlanders, vho ver sorning and plundring vithin the boundis of the presbytrie 1667 Highland P. II 38.
[He] keeped such rangall, sorning on the comones, that they rather be dead then live in such slaverie 1667 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 198.
The said Lauchlan did sorn up and down the countrey 1667 Highland P. II 37.
Glengarrie's freinds did sorne and quarter on both parties(b) 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 28.
Quhatsumevir persone … salhappin to be found soirning, craveing meit, drink or ony uther geir fra the tennentis … except for reasonable and sufficient payment fra the oistlairis to be … haldin as thevis 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 501.
By comeing … in companyis … and soirning upon thame dayis and nichtis so lang as thair is ony [pr. only] victuallis, … in thair housis(c) 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 205.
Anguis … invited him to his own house … and then they would goe to the next house, and so all along through the country, a custom usuall among Hilanders, to sorrin from home to home, making merry whilst provision lasts

2. tr. a. To trouble or harass (a person) with demands for free quarters and provisions. b. To live off and despoil (the country) in this fashion.a. 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 248.
The Clangregour … birnis and slayis the pouer liegis of this realme … takis thair gudis, sornis and oppressis thame 1563–4 Reg. Privy C. I 271.
That … nane of thame sould sorne or oppres our Soverane Ladiis liegis dwelland within the boundis of Stratherne(b) 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 501.
[Many … vagabonds … have, … most heavily] soirnit, troublit, and opprest [the said Earl's vassals]b. a1568 Pedder C. 11.
Sornand all and sindry airtis For to by hennis reidwod he rynnis 1575 Orkney Oppress. 9.
Causing them to sorn, oppres, and spuilȝie the country 1588–9 Reg. Privy C. IV 342.
Eftir thay had soirned, wracked, and spoilled the saidis haill illis c1650 Spalding I 161.
He … directit thame to go sorne and leive vpone the landis and bestiall pertening to the laird Drum 1701 Banff Ann. I 113.
Those profligate vagabounds did sorne all the countrey round, both south and north 1697 Fraser P. 41.
Fiftie or sixtie … men … did sorne and cesse the countrey