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

Surveying, Surveighing, Surweiuing, vbl. n. [Late ME (once) and e.m.E. surveying (1467-8); Survey v.] The action of looking at, examining, inspecting (a place or thing); also, specif., the inspection of houses on the Sabbath by church elders in order to find persons absent from church. — 1632 Lithgow Trav. title.
The Totall Discourse of the Rare Adventures … of long nineteene Yeares Trauayles … in Surueighing of Forty eight Kingdomes 1642 Orkney Rentals iii 5.
Ane bunthell of wreats, quharin is conteinit ane comisione for surveying the teinds of the heall kirks of Orkney 1649 Ruthven Corr. 107.
And for surweiuing [pr. surweining] of all mistakingis and desorders, I have thoght fitt to leawe this disposition of the lands and mowablls 1721 Rothesay Par. Rec. 362.
The elders being interrupted from surveying on the Sabbath … lately by Margaret Banatyne concealing crouds she had drinking in her house