Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wre(i)sting, Wra(i)sting, vbl. n. Also: wreasting, wristing, wrysting. [ME and e.m.E. wrastyng (Wyclif), wrestynge (Prompt. Parv.).]

1. The action of twisting or turning. (Wre(i)st v. 2.) b. A sprain. (Wre(i)st v. 2 b.) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 276 (L).
Ane fysche fanggit in the net … With wreisting [W. Ay wristing, Wr. wristing] and thrysting, The faster stykis schob. 1650 Maxwell Mem. 351.
Cureing … diseases, such as blastings, wrestings [etc.] 1662 Highland P. III 5 (see Brising vbl. n.).

2. The twisting or misinterpretation of words, etc.; an instance of this. (Wre(i)st v. 3.) 1558 Treas. Acc. X 370.
Thair wrangus using and wristing of the scripture 1562-3 Winȝet I 20/1.
We allegeit na thing … bot … the expres word of God, but wrysting, wrying, gloissing, or cloking 1562-3 Winȝet II 23/27.
He … wald delete thai cursit nocht writtingis, bot wristingis, of the new vngodlines 1585 Acts III 386/2.
That the same [sc. ordinances] sall at na tyme … be abrogat … that na … persoun … pretend to argun … for the infringeing breking wrasting abrogatioun or derogatioun thairof c1590 Fowler II 34/15.
Thou sould haue na cause … to accuse me in depriuing thy dytement, or in wraisting thy words: I haue set downe a portioun of thy letter a1634 Forbes Rec. 523.
By wreisting all things to a wrong sense 1651 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 646/1.
Our not cleiring, bot wreasting the trew staite of the quarrell with a vilfull reiecting of all meines for prewenting the sheding of blood 1669 Jus Populi 187.
A wringing or wresting them [sc. Scriptures] to bring in our owne fancyes

3. The action of seizing (something). (Cf. Wre(i)st v. 4.) 1591 Aberd. B. Rec. II 72.
Passing to the fredome … and their wreisting at the townis instance the peitts cassin be the said erle … wpon the fredome of this burght