A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Scarsnes, Scaircenes, Skairnes, n. Also: scarce-, scarss-, skars-, skarsch-; skairs-, skairce-; skears-; skarsines; skernes. [ME and e.m.E. scarsnes (Cursor M.), scarnes (c1400), charsnes (1508); Scars(e adj.]
1. Niggardliness, meanness, stinginess.?1438 Alex. ii 6654.
For scarsnes in ȝow … sa rutit is That thair is na thing that ȝe leif On ony syde Ib. 7007. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 182/20 (A).
Larges relevis & succouris a man and scarsnes interdytis nobilite 15.. Clar. v 1832.
Away was falsit, … Away was nigardie and all skarschnes
2. Shortage of the necessities of life; dearth. Cf. Scarsity n. 3.c1460 Regim. Princ. 93 (Maitl.).
Na king suld … wit of scarsnes nor of wrechit thing That micht his hart to dreid of mister draw 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 8.
Wastand their lands … with multitude of scheip …, thereby trubland Gods people with skarsnes, povertie, and outer hairschip 1623 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 272.
[Not able to harvest his crop] be reasone of the skearsnes this present yeir, [Ord sold his crop to the landlord]
3. Deficient supply (of persons or material things needed for a particular purpose, also lit. and fig. of a non-material thing). Cf. Scarsity n. 2.(1) 1555–6 Reg. Privy S. IV 555/2.
The want and laik of cunning men, raritie and skarsines of thame to teche and reid within oure realme [etc.] 1576 Orkney Oppress. 64.
Thai wantit servandis and could get nane to fee … throw derth and scarssnes thairoff 1617 Dundas Fam. P. No. 50.
To the end the straingeris … may not find skaircenes of men alsueill as meitt(2) 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 161.
It is fund that the lattin furth thairof [sc. the burgh loch] is the principall caus of the scarcenes of watter … in the drowth and somer seasoun 1597 Conv. Burghs II 12.
For skairsnes of tymer in this west cuntrey 1666 Old Ross-shire II 82.
The not selling of barkit hydes quhilk occasiones the skearsnes of schewes 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 83.
Thomas Robertsone … [complains] upon the scarshes [for scarsnes] of the watter in the windmill(b) 1578 Rec. Earld. Orkney 354.
Throw the greit dartht, penuritie and skernes of victuellis that is presentlie in the cuntrey of Orknay 1590 Glasgow B. Rec. I 153.
Becaus of penuritie and skairnes of tymer(3) c1550-c1580 Art of Music 26b.
Penuratie of and scarsnes of nottis in ane part of ane sang a1599 Rollock Wks. I 447.
They will find greit inlaik and scaircenes of this spreit
