Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dansing, Danc(e)ing, vbl. n. Also: dawnsyng, daunsing, dansinge, -sin. [e.m.E. daunsing (1530), ME. daunceynge, -cing (c 1300).]

1. Dancing. c1420 Wynt. v. 2082.
Menstralcyis and grett dansyng Ib. viii. 5947.
Justyng, dawnsyng, and playnge He luwyd welle a1500 Henr. Fab. 1411.
Scho gaif ane cry, and all the laif agast Thair dansing left c1500-c1512 Dunb. liii. 45.
To the danceing son he him med 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 156.
Als the saydis Robert and Johnn hed strublit the lordis of Bonacord … , in stoping of dansing a1500 Peblis to Play 231.
The daunsing wes all done 1558-66 Knox II. 412.
That nycht wes nether dansing nor fyddilling in the Courte 1570 Leslie 265.
Thair was used a princely dansinge, called the ball royall a1578 Pitsc. I. 240/26.
Passin thair tyme in … dansin and playing Ib. 359/11.
Tryme danceing be the sound of instrumentis

2. Attrib. with chalmer, claithis, cote, hous. 1503–4 Treas. Acc. II. 414.
Sex daunsing cotis 1508 Ib. IV. 64.
Birge satin … to be v daunsing cotis 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 113.
To put ordour to sic commone drinking and dansing housis 1581 Treas. Acc. 97² b.
Mending of … windois in the dansing chalmer 1600 Elgin Rec. II. 81.
Gif he ves in consale of the buying of the bellis and dansing claythis