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

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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.

Returning, -yng, -tourning, -tornyng, vbl. n. Also: returne- and -inge, -yn, -en. [ME and e.m.E. retournynge (Chaucer), returning (a1569); Return v.]

1. The action of returning, in senses 1 and 2 of Return v.(1) 1504 Justiciary Rec. I 344.
Quhill his retornyn & cummyne agane in the same [realm] 1511–12 Reg. Privy S. I 360/2.
Returnyn 1533 Bell. Livy I 185/29.
At the returnyng of the pepill to Rome [etc.] 1541 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 106.
And pvnisching of thair personis at thair returnyng 1559 Peebles B. Rec. I 258.
To imput ane vther substantious man in his place quhill his returnyng c1567 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. III 89.
After my retorninge out of England [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 84/22.
Returneing 1600-1610 Melvill 227.
Retourning 1686 Dunlop P. III 22.
If they go away there is no howps of your retournen(2) c1475 Wall. v 290.
With retornyng that nycht xx^ty he slew Ib. x 337.
The Bruce him hurt at the returnyng thair a1578 Pitsc. II 110/22.
Ane great airmie of Ingland … wer so chassit, slaine and taine at thair returning, quhilk was callit the Tuysdayis chace

2. A withdrawal, retreat. 1513 Doug. v x 69.
Syndry coursys and returnyngis [Sm. returnis] maid thai; Fast athir sort gan othiris rowt cumray