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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Travailling,) Trava(i)ling, Trawa(i)lling, Travel(l)ing, vbl. n. Also: travaillin, travalinge, -yng, travling, trawaling(e, -yn(g, trawelling, trawelynge. [ME and e.m.E. trauelling, trauayling, traualynge (all Cursor M.).]

1. a. Hardship, suffering. = Travail(l)(e n. 1. (Trava(i)l(l v. 1.) b. Effort, struggle, work; an instance of this. = Travail(l)(e n. 2. (Trava(i)l(l v. 2.)a., b. 1375 Barb. iii 317.
We … haffis oft-sys off met sik ned And is ay in sic trawailling With cauld and hunger 1375 Barb. viii 8.
The king … wyst … he mycht nocht bring It to gud end but trawalling [C. traualyng] 1375 Barb. ix 500.
Trawalyn a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 620.
The haly gaste al thinge Ma gere man cone but trawalinge c1420 Wynt. viii 2547.
Sum off thare falowys thare ware slayne; Sum forwakyd in trawalyng; Sum for hungyr … Wery ware 1489 Acts II 222/2.
Seruice auerage cariage schering ledding lauboring ridding and trawelling c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. xi 28.
Myn ilk dais traualing is the besynes of al kirkis 1571 S. Leith Rec. 185/2.
In trauelling to do it, I may schow my gude will 1602 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 1081.
[I pray God he harm none else with his too open confession … in this matter … I am sorry … that any of these parties came hither to qualify their] travlingis

2. Labour, childbirth. = Travail(l)(e n. 6. (Trava(i)l(l v. 3.) 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 89.
His wyif … was in traveling 1655 Old-lore Misc. V iii 133.
Janet Liell … being with Janet Couper when sche was in travelling

3. Travelling, journeying; roving. = Travail(l)(e n. 7. (Trava(i)l(l v. 4.) b. A way, route, means of travelling. c. attrib. As used when travelling, appropriate for travelling. 1375 Barb. ii 286.
Thai that duellis at the logyng Sen thai come owt off trawelling Sall in schort tyme wnarmyt be a1400 Leg. S. v 632.
He vent to vesy the kinge, & tel hym of his travalinge, As is the costome a1400 Leg. S. viii 8.
Sanct Philpe … quhene he had thretty ȝere … gane fer and nere … payganis … In til his lare wald nocht enclyne, Bot lete hym al his trawelynge tyn 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5561.
Ypocras the message did ressaue, Hartlie praying the messingers him to haue … excusit vnto thair nobill king, For he for eild micht mak na trauelling 1570–1 Bann. Memor. 360.
The wethir … continewing sa ewill, and the trawelling sa diffissill 1578 Glenartney Doc.
Divers … be daylie hanting reparing travelling and seiking of thair guidis within our said forrest 1596 Highland P. I 180.
[To] shuit him in his travaillin 1596 Moysie xviii.
Our dalie travelling hes bene the caus of the not returne of ansuer 1647 Sc. N. & Q. XII 61.
David Layng and Andro Watsone maid their repentance … for traveling from Dundie upon the Sabothe 1647 Moray Synod 88.
That the Lord's day is prophaned … be … travailing to mercats 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 77.
In travelling we rencontred wery great heards [sc. of swine] 1674 Cunningham Diary 48.
Expense in servants travelling £2 15 s. 10 d.b. 1375 Barb. x 570.
Our the wall [I slaid] A strayt roid that I sperit had … Ik wsyt lang that trawaling Swa that I kan that roid ga rycht Thoucht men se newyr sa myrk the nychtc. 1689 Acts XII 52/1.
The officers … may … carry thair swords within townes and … make use of horses & ordinary travelling armes in the countrey