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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stering, Stirring, vbl. n.¹ Also: -inge, -yng(e, steiring, steering, stur(r)ing. [ME and e.m.E. sturunge (a1225), stiring (Cursor M.), styring, sterynge (both Rolle), styrryng (a1425), sturringe (1524-34), stearing (1561), OE styringe, Ster(e v.¹]

1. Moving, movement, in senses 1, 3, 10 and 11 of Ster(e v.¹Quot. 1526 may belong in Stering vbl. n.²(a) 1375 Barb. x 209.
And held thaim swa still but stering, That nane of thaim had persavyng 1375 Barb. x 652.
Thai … Herd both stering and ek speking a1400 Leg. S. iv 76.
Thru sorcery … Philet … mycht ster noder hand na fete … be his slicht [Hermogines] Had rewit hym steringe & mycht a1400 Leg. S. vii 298.
A ferly sterynge sone feld thai, Rycht as the ȝerde suld tremyl al a1400 Leg. S. xxix 134.
He … lay stil … But steryng of fut ore hand c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. viii 24.
A gret steiring was made in the see sa that the litil schip was keuerit with wawis 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 534/1.
Full power … to intromet with all our soverane lordis artilȝery … and to rais and use the samyn … als wele within the realme as outwith … and to mak deputis, etc., for using and exercing of the said office and stering of the said artilȝery(b) 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 49/15.
The next [symptom] is the boldning vp so far of the patients breast and bellie, with such an vnnaturall sturring and vehement agitation within them 1604-31 Craig ii 33.
But sturring will he stand

b. Riding (a horse) in sense 1 b of Ster(e v.¹ ?1438 Alex. ii 4139.
At stering him semit na page

c. The manner of moving or carriage (of a person). c1400 Troy-bk. i 302.
Sa fayr folk … So stalwart in-to thar passyng Thare contynance and thar stering

d. Energetic or vigorous movement (in a horse) perhaps with reference to a particular pace. Cf. Sterand ppl. adj. 1 and Ster(e v.¹ 1 b. Cf. also OED Stirring vbl. n. 3 b. ?1438 Alex. i 293.
My steid, that now sic stering mais [F. mon cheval qui or trote], Be fallen in the haltand pais

2. lit. The action of disturbing; a disturbance or movement. Cf. sense 2 of Ster(e v.¹ 1628 Dalyell Darker Superst. 477.
A souldier … jogges two of his comrades lying by him, who did find much fault with him for sturring of them 1670 Kingarth Par. Rec. 59.
He hard some sturing and stichling in the house 1671 Rothesay B. Rec. 216.
Margaret Stewart … heiring sume sturring in the nicht did ryse and perceawing ane uther woman rin to the dore [etc.]

3. The action of stirring (a pot), in sense 4 of Ster(e v.¹ 1677 Dunferm. Kirk S. 70.
Report was made of Agnes Drysdaill for masking on the Sabbath, and W^m Burley … for steiring the pat to her

b. A second ploughing; cross-ploughing, in sense 4 d of Ster(e v.¹ 1682 Corshill Baron Ct. 161.
For steiring of half ane aiker of beir land 1699 Belhaven Rudiments 10.
The next plowing, or steering as they call it, must be at or about Candlemas 1700 Corshill Baron Ct. 197.
[Payment] for stirring ane rood of beirland this last laboring tym

4. The action of rousing (a person's spirits) in senses 5 or 6 of Ster(e v.¹ 1622 Crim. Trials III 516.
Quhilk is the steiring of the spreittis-vitall

5. The movement of an army, (a) military action or campaign, passing into trouble making, civil disturbance or commotion. b. An action more generally.(a) 1375 Barb. xi 189.
The king apon this kyn wys Had ordanyt … His bataillis and his stering ?1438 Alex. ii 7975.
Than hes he ordanit thame halely, Baith his battelis and his stering [F. leur conrois et leur esmouvement] c1420 Wynt. vi 1960.
In Scotland than as kyng This Makbeth mad gret steryng [c. sterynge] And set hym … for to mak off were c1420 Wynt. viii 6132.
And cald it iwill forbysnyng, That in the fyrst off thare steryng That worthy man suld be slayne … Bot the kyng held furth his way [etc.] a1508 Want of Wyse Men 62 (Bann.).
As lairdis so laddis daly chengeable But ryme or ressone all is bot heble hable Sic sturtfull stering in to Godis neis it stinkis(b) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 103.
For indeid we oure self hes had sum pruif and experience of thair sturring, quhen [etc.] 1643 Baillie II 58.
The marqueisses … intim familiaritie keeped down the malcontents from anie stirring 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 475.
To take all advantages upon England that may be afforded us by the stirring of our friends there 1659 Dumbarton B. Rec. 78.
Giving the magistrattes powar to suppress tumults, stirrings [etc.]b. a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 49.
Scho consawit Godis sone of hewyne, Thru steryng of the Haly Gest a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 310.

6. Const. up in senses 16, 18 and 19 of Ster(e v.¹ a. Causing agitation (among people or in their emotions, etc.), inciting, provoking. b. Causing (trouble, dissension). c. Agitating ? in sense 3 above or ? a further example of a above.a. 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 505.
Certane factious … personis … intendis to disturb the said electioun … be stering up of partiis within the said burgh 1585 Rep. Menzies MSS 10.
The stering up and hunding oute of certane euil affectionat personis 1600-1610 Melvill 3.
For amendiment of unthankfulness … and steiring upe the hartes of all the members 1600-1610 Melvill 371.
And because the … Protestants in Scotland is over stark and controlles the king they mon be waikned and brought law be steiring upe a pairtie to tham 1602 Anal. Scot. I 211.
Not repairing to the kirk, … steering up her servands to the contempt thairofb. 1596–7 Warrender P. (SHS) II 303.
Be the steiring up of the last uproare of the peple in Edinburgh 1600-1610 Melvill 125 (see Ster(e v.¹ 13).(b) 1640 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 227.
Imploying his haill wits in kingling and stirring up disension within the said burghec. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 47/28.
It is possible to the craft of the Deuill to make a womans bellie to swel … either by steiring vp her own humor, or by herbes