Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Sculding, Scoulding, n. [? ON sculda-þing ‘a Thing for civil debts, damages and fines for minor offences’ (Jakobsen), f. sculd a debt, due and þing a court.] ? A procedure for dealing with minor offences, ? esp. where no specific individual accused could be identified (but cf. Sculd v.). — 1576 Orkney Oppress. 49.
The laird in his last court haldin at Quhytnes chargit ten houshaldis for scoulding, that is to say, for ane sclander and brute that was rasit upon sum of the town, quham thai culd not get knawlege off, to quyt thame of scheip that wantit 1576 Orkney Oppress. 51.
Ferdlie, thair is ane branche of this law of Granderie, callit sculding, that is to say, ane brute or sclander of thift, pykrie, or sic uther crymes, rasit be the deid of ane single persoun … quhairoff na probatioun can be had quha is the committar thairoff, in that case the haill nichtbouris … are … put under acquittance of the said brute