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.
Quotation dates: 1438-1452, 1513-1630
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Stirling, n. Also: -lyng, -lene, styrlyng, sterling. [ME and e.m.E. sterling (Cursor M., v.r. starling), starling(e (c1350), OE stærlinc; Stare n.1] A starling. ?1438 Alex. i 1807.
As ane falcoun of hie attour Straik stirlingis, sa skaillit he … The strenth of the Gaderanis quhair thay War semblit c1450-2 Howlat 713 (A).
The mavis and the merle … Osillis and stirlingis 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 238.
The cowschet crowdis and pyrkis on the rys The styrlyng [E. sterling] changis diuers stevynnys nys, The sparrow chyrmys [etc.] 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 39/23.
Quhen the piettis clattrit, the garruling of the stirlene gart the sparrou cheip c1552 Lynd. Mon. 612.
Nunnis … Syngand … psalmes … Nocht vnderstandyng quhat thay syng nor say, Bot lyke one stirlyng or ane papingay 1587-99 Hume 32/190.
The maveis and the philomeen, The stirling whissilles lowd 1630 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 3 (see Stare n.1).
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"Stirling n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/stirling>
