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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)having, vbl. n. Also: schaw-, s(c)heav-, schev- and -yn(g, -in, -e(i)ne, scawyn. [ME and e.m.E. shauyng (Chaucer); Schave v.]

1. The action of shaving (the hair, beard, etc., or the head, etc.), in senses 1–3 of Schave v. 1529 Treas. Acc. V 366.
For the king tua bassingis for schaving and wesching c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 249.
Be our byschopis receauyng, As be annoynting, and schauing of our croun 1595 Anderson Winter Night p. 18.
With philactries, With shaving, jowking and juglaries, Into the kirk each day 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (STS) 236/25.
Thay vsit na schevin of haidis, nor papers of infamie vpon thair forets

2. The action of paring, or of cutting away in thin slices; the action of grazing, abrading or chafing. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 137.
In strykyn be the harnepane or be the makyn thyn of it be scawyn a way [Skene Reg. Maj. i 67, or be making thinne the skinne of his head be scheavin away of the samine] 1594 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 3b.
For schauene of our blokis xvi s. 1594–5 Ib. 4a.
For schaueine of blokis 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Intertrigo (n.), galling, or shauing 1624 Elgin Rec. II 186.
Katrein Norie … fynit for scheaving of candill and grinding on queirnis on the Sabothe day

3. attrib. and comb.Schaving clath (schete), a shaving cloth to cover the chest of a person being shaved.Schaving iron, a (shoemaker's) paring knife; ? a razor.(1) 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 108.
I send nocht the schaving clatht nor your armis becaus I cuth nocht gett thaim 1530 Balmerino and L. Chart. ii 32.
Nek cowrchis, … fowir schawyn claths 1535 Treas. Acc. VI 252.
To be schavyng claithis to the kingis grace iij elnis small holland claith 1659 Craven Ch. in Orkney II 196.
Ane pair sheaving sheets(2) 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I 176.
Ane schawing irne … wyth the steill to scherp the schawing irne 1588–9 Glasgow B. Rec. I 130.
Elschingis, ane schaving irne, and ane hewing aix 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 314.
[He] persewit him agane with ane schairp schaving yron(3) a1568 Bann. MS 159b/46.
On barbour can haif bot on schaving hand