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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.

Riddin(g, Riding, vbl. n. Also: ryd(d)ing, ryde-, ryid- and -yng, -yn(e, -ene. [North. ME and e.m.E. ryddyng (1347–8).]

1. The action of Rid v. in senses 2 a and b. a. Fixing boundaries, etc. Also fig. b. Settling the amount of teinds payable; also, ryddin down, doun-riding, the lowering of a valuation.Also attrib. in ryding-buke, a record of valuations.a. (1) 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 65.
Riddin of the common in the norcht part 1618 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 15 May.
The provest baillies & consall hes ordanit … the mustards of this burch … & the comoun mure riddin 1676 Banff Ann. I 156.
Saturday nixt is appoyntit for rydding of the merches(b) 1566 Crail B. Ct. MS 31 Oct.
The rydyng of the proper muyr of Craill 1570 Lanark B. Rec. 51.
To Thome Gray for the instromentis of the ryding of the landemuris 1580–90 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 149.
For it lys betwix our hid dyks and the fewairis awin ryding of propertie, as thei red upon thair consciens beand sworn 1584 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 88.
Being convenit the haill body for maist pairt of the tounshippe off the said toune efter the ryding of the marchis 1586–7 Ayr B. Acc. 157. 1588 Lanark B. Rec. 92.
For the knhawlege of the liberty and fredom of thair brught in ryding of thair merchis and bounding of thair commoun gudis, … the cunsall and commonatie personally past one hors and fuit to the perfurming of thair commoun welth and to mak it knhawin to all ajacent thair merches 1597 Conv. Burghs II 6.
Thair present commissioner producit na delegence in writt concerning the … ryding of thair meithis and mercheis 1601–2 Montrose Treas. Acc. 4. 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 110.
The tyme of the ryding of the slappis of the parochin 1606 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 23.
At the ryding of the marchis to the minstrallis 1608 Ib. 46.
The toun hes bene in use of ryding and ganging of thair said comone mure be these stanes already set … past memorie of man 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS 2.
Aill drukin in deacon taiverneris efter the marches ryding 1656 Cramond Cullen Ann. 46. 1680 A. Steel Rec. Annan (1933) 33.
The haill inhabitants were ordaint … to be readie … at the Cross … before the sunrysing for ryding of the toune's marches 1681 Rothesay B. Rec. 380.
When ther is any intricat march … to … chuse any man within the toun who best knowes the same for riding of the marchesfig. a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 536.
It importeth … a ridding of marches in some full and eminent manner for the vindicating of these truths(2) 1599 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 25 June.
The bering of the handsenȝie of this burh at thair generall mustares, or ryding the mure, … ane merchand sall beir it ane day, ane craftisman ane vther day and ane vther comoun man … beir it the third day 1702 Peebles B. Rec. II 167.
The counsell … think fit [pr. of it] to alter the dyet of ryding the Eschellie common fra the Teusday after Pasch to the third Munday of Apryll yeirly(b) 1625 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 282.
Ordanis proclamatioun to be maid for ryiding the Merches upon Alhallowevin nixt 1659 Linlithgow Acc. Bk. in Anal. Scot. I 206.
To the workmen at the dam heid at rydeing our marches(3) 1476 Reg. Cupar A. I 204 (see Rid v. 2 p.p. (c)).
Ridyng 1530 Reg. Soltre 158.
For the Preue Sele and the Greit Sele of our landis of … Cumstoun and the ryding to tak sesing, and notaris feis, [etc.] 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V 231.
The sam [tacks to] be sett to sic as will gif maist … and the estimatioun to be had according to the rydings 1658 Aberd. Council Lett. III 329.
Incroachings upon the touns lands conforme to our rydingb. 1474 Reg. Cupar A. I 201.
Eftyr the rydyng of the tendis and the prices mad be the grauntar, ilkane of the tenandis sal haue thar awyn tend 1562 Thirds of Benefices 133.
Ryddin downe [of the teinds … part of the third of … Murray] riddin less the yeir compted nor thai war rentalled … as the ryding and instrumentis thairupoun schawin upoun compt proportis 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V 164.
[The council] fynds guid that the ryding of the teynds of Curry be nocht mislyppenit(b) 1681 Strathallan Geneal. Drummond 158.
This rydeing of teynds is a kind of severe way to consider and estimate the value of the tenth sheaffe of all cornes in the time of harvest standing on the ground(2) 1561 Reg. Dunferm. App. ii 458.
Be ressoune of the downe ryding to xx merkis less nor it wes of befoir(3) attrib. 1545–6 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 544.
[The teinds] … war worth the forsadis victuallis, and war justlie ryddyn to the quantite aboun writtin … as … the actis of the feir and rydene buik schawin and producit … proportit and buir 1546 Ib. 546.
Ridyne buik 1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 64b.
The said Williame hes sauld … thre scoer bollis aittis … to the said Dauid … vncheritit conforme to the riding bukis of the said commendatare

2. The action of clearing (a way). Cf Rid v. 4 c and Rid ppl. adj. 3. b. That which is cleared away; refuse. 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 233b.
The guds & gers … to be tane … & varyt on the ridding & graithin of the gaitb. 1584 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 198.
Bessie … to pay … fourscoir cowpfulls of mwk … of the riddingis of thair barne

3. The action of separating (combatants). Cf. Rid v. 1. 1642 T. Hope Diary 174.
Word cam off the killing of worthie Sandfurd … in ridding off his sonnes in a tumult