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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Redding(g, vbl. n.² Also: readd- and -yn(g, -ying; -ene.[ Red v.²] The action of Red v.² See also Reding(e vbl. n.²

1. The action of Red v.², in various senses. a. The clearing of a space, passage, channel, etc., from encumbrances, rubbish, etc. Cf. Red v.² 2. 1450 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 85.
The uphaldyn and the reddyn of the myl laid 1453 Misc. Spald. C. V 49.
To Syre for reddying of the grounde, 5 s. 6 d. 1504 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 99.
For the outtaking of the greit stanis in the hevin and redding of the channell 1512–13 Treas. Acc. IV 466.
Scholis and … spadis for the redding of the greit schippis dok 1520 Wemyss Chart. 145.
Expens apon the said colehewis, owther in durris, wynnyng, fawis, redding [etc.] 1536–7 Ayr B. Acc. 20.
Reddene 1542 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For redding of the gwtaris in the querrell 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II 363.
For ane lok stapill, and redding of the nether kirk yaird yeitt 1561–2 Edinb. Old Acc. I 369.
For castin of ane fouche and redding of the ground to the esings of the Eister milne 1595 Stirling B. Rec. II 381. 1671 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 4b.
For redding the haseing to dry the nether roum Ib. 5b.
For straiking throu & redding ane gaitt 1676 Glasgow Chart. II 187.
For casting or redding the grownd 1677 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 17 March.
For redding of 2 staires with 4 men overblown with snow 1682 Musselburgh 49. 1683 Fawside Coal Compt 103.
For redding the gatte 1698 Foulis Acc. Bk. 231.
3 dayes work at redding the wester quarrell

b. The clearing away of debris, waste material, etc. Cf. Red v.² 3. 1453 Misc. Spald. C. V 50.
For reddying of clay fra the key, 12 s. 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I 285.
For redding of the fulȝe fra the Nether Bow bowt 1673 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
[For] redding of stones fallen in his roome

c. The removing of an occupier, or of oneself and one's possessions, etc., from (furth of, of lands, etc.). Cf. Red v.² 5 and 5 b. 1496 Acta Conc. II 12.
The devoding and redding of him of the saidis landis 1575 Reg. Privy S. VII 28/2.
For non removing … and redding of thame selffis, thair servandis and guidis, furth of the castellis of Rosdo and Dunglass

d. reflex. The action of leaving, or departing (from (furth of) a place). Cf. Red v.² 6. 1544 Reg. Privy S. III 149/2.
For non devyding and redding thame furth of the burgh

e. The action of establishing or regulating land boundaries. Also fig. Cf. Red v.² 7. 1479–80 Acta Conc. I 47/2.
The landis … ar debatable betuix the said partijs and standis apoun perambulacioun and redding of merchis 1480 Ib. 62/1. 1488 Paisley B. Rec. 26.
Tuiching the redding of the landymeris, richt marchez and ald diuisis betuix the landis … of Paslay … and the common landis of the burgh of Renfrew 1528 Cal. Charters Suppl. (Reg. H.).
Anent the desyding, redding, and ewynnyng off certane marchis 1604 Murray Early B. Organ. II 217.
Upone the xxi dey of Junij 1604 conveint at the redding of the marchis of the commoun landis within the friedom and libertie of the burght of Newtoun upone Air 1666 Corshill Baron Ct. 72.
Constitute birlaymen in redding of martchesfig. 1600-1610 Melvill 381.
Lord Jesus … withe whome the king enterit in actioun for redding of merches 1699 Fountainhall Decis. II 44.
In redding marches betwixt chirurgeons and pharmacians

f. The action of clearing up, tidying or setting in order, a room, building, etc. Cf. Red v.² 8. Also const. about, up. With quot. 1505 cf. Outred(d)ing vbl. n.¹ 4.(1) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 302.
For redding of the werkhous in the castel to hous the artailȝery 1559 Haddington Treas. Acc.
For reddin of the wolt of the tolbut 1577 Treas. Acc. XIII 184. 1595 St. A. Test. II 226.
For redding of the hous 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 95.
At the redding of the munitioun hous quhen the peices were drawin in 1620 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i 6. — 1505 Treas. Acc. III 84.
To the schip werk and redding of the schip callit Collumb(2) 1622 Elgin Rec. II 174.
To tua men for redding about the queir ilk day till the queir be cleingit(3) 1676 Craven Ch. in Orkney 63.
Levelling the church yeard, redding up the stones, and smoothing … the old steith of the church yeard dycke

g. The action of settling a dispute, or of regulating or carrying through a piece of financial or other business. Cf. Red v.² 9 and 9 b.(1) 1575 Cal. Sc. P. V 200.
All … that luikit for weir … are disapoyntit for thai belevit suirlie it suld have past redding 1606 Acts IV 288/2.
For redding and satling of the saidis tumultis(2) 1490 Lanark B. Rec. 7.
For reddin of the chekker, iiij lib. xvj s. … for the redding of the stent, v li. xij s. vj d. 16.. Old Ross-shire I 278.
For redding his necessary and urgent affaires

h. The action of paying off, or clearing, debts. Const. of the person whose debts are paid. Cf. Red v.² 10. 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 397.
Matheu Fichet aldirman become dettour … for reddyng of the balȝeis of the yer bypast with ordinance … of the counsale

i. The action of separating or the separation (of combatants). Also comb. with stroke, a blow received by a person trying to separate combatants; only fig. Cf. Red v.² 11. a1500 Peblis to Play 132.
Thay thrang out at the dure at anis Withouttin ony reddin [: beddin] 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 353.
All the realme mycht mak no reddyng, Quhill [etc.] c1550 Id. Meldrum 671.
Wer not Frenchemen come to the redding Thair had bene mekill mair blude shedding Ib. 1263. 1593 Acts IV 29/2.
Gif … ony persoun … to be hurt … in redding and putting sindre parties meitand in armes … thay alwayes redding the saidis parties with lang waypynnis allanerlie 1595 Colville Lett. 154. 1609 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 71.
The … convocatting of sundry gentlemen … to the redding & sundering of thame 1610 Paisley B. Rec. 285.
Quhen ony trublance falls out … that they bring furth ane of the said waipons for redding or defence a1651 Calderwood IV 660.
In redding of them a man slainecomb. a1649 Sel. Biog. I 384.
I hope Jesus Christ shall give death the redding stroke ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadfull Alarms 19.
Afflictions … I can promise myself … and a redding stroak ay when dunts come a dealing

2. Rubble, debris. Also coll. pl.The 1680 quot. may be a unique instance of redding to, and so properly belong to 1 a above. 1654 Wemyss in Sc. Diaries 126.
[To every collier] wickly for readdings beseids the prisses sett dounne for hewing 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 56.
For redding to the stowps, 6 s. 8 d. 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 130.
The kings house demolished by the Danes; whereof remains now nothing but redding