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

Wardin(g, Wairding, vbl. n. Also: wardyn(g, -ine, -eyne, -eing, varding, vairding, wayrding. [ME and e.m.E. wardynge (14th c.), warding (1571).]

1. In collocation with walking: Guarding, protecting, see Wa(l)kin(g vbl. n.¹ 5 b for further examples. b. With omission of walking. c. attrib. Wairding naill, ‘a guard nail, nail used for pinning mortised joint’ M. Works Acc. II Glossary. 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 113.
Wardyn 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 114.
Wardyngb. 1623 Perth Kirk S. in Lawson Bk. Perth 303.
George Wilson, … deponit the eight merks … for his exemption from wardingc. 1625 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 177.
To Robert Dinmuir smyth for wairding naill dure nailles and plenscheour nailles iiii lib. vii s.

2. The action or fact of (lands, etc.) falling into the control of the feudal superior because of the minority of the heir. (Ward v.¹ 2.) 1478 Acta Conc. I 5/1.
The accioune … anent the warding of the … landis of Strobrok be decesse of vmquhile Alexander Sutherland 1478 Acta Conc. I 13/1.
Tuiching the warding of the tennandry of the landis of Grantoun … allegit to be in warde to our souuerain lorde be the deces [etc.] 1485 Breadalbane Doc. No. 22 (see Ward v.¹ 2 b). 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 55.
Gif it sal happin me … to deceise … and the saidis landis to fall in warde swa that the sade Schir Wilȝeam … may nocht … joise the sade tak and set throw the sade warding [etc.](b) 1521 Montgomery Mem. 93.
The said Schir Jhone hed in wodset … with claus of warrendis fra wardeyne, twelf bollis of bair

3. The action or fact of confining or imprisoning, confinement, imprisonment of malefactors, etc. Also actis, lettres, preceptis, etc. of warding. b. attrib. or comb. Warding place (hous), a place or location used for the confinement of prisoners, a prison. Warding buke, a record of those imprisoned.(a) 1471 Acta Aud. 10/1.
He sal gif the said reuersioun … vnder paine of warding of his persoun 1492 Acta Conc. I 253/1.
Wardin 1493 Acta Aud. 169/2.
The personis that were chargeit to ward for [etc.] … be dischargeit of the said warding 1541–2 Ayr B. Acc. 87.
At the warding of thame in the Tolbuith that wer awand dettis to the toun 1546 Blackfriars Perth 213.
The warding to be in the castell of Blaknes 1561 Dumfries B. Ct. 6a.
Varding 1566–7 Glasgow Prot. IV 125.
He confessit that he hard of a bruit how the king suld be put in ward … this purpois of the bruit of the kingis warding wes schewen … to the erle of Lenox 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 591.
My lord regent relevit the said young lard of Hundoley of his warding within the samyn burgh, and grantit him libertie to depart 1575 Orkney Oppress. 8.
Be imprisoning and warding of our sovereign Lord's lieges 1582 Perth B. Ct. 1 June.
With executorialis of hornyng poinding and varding to follow thairon as efferis 1593 Edzell Doc. in Crawford MSS (Rylands Lib.).
The substantiall priuileges of the burgh contenit in this erectione namelie with priuilege of warding & incarceratione c1615 Chron. Kings 116.
Efter ten ȝeiris warding, he deis in maidnis 1622 Wodrow's Life of Bruce 132.
During the time of my warding in the castle of Edinburgh 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 301.
Wardeing 1681 Stair Inst. iv xlvii § 1.
Inferior courts have no other executions, except burghs-royal (who have a privilege to grant acts of warding)(b) 1494 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 68.
Vnder the payne of his persoun to remayne in wairding of his persoun within this inner chawmer quhill he gif in his said compt 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III 32.
Throw thair wairding the commoun effairis of this burgh [are] … hynderit 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 50.
That preceptis and executorialles of poinding or wairding suld be direct thairupoun 1579–80 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 147.
Actis of wairding or poynding to be direct for poynding or wairding of all personis conuict [etc.] 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 205.
Incais ony deforcement be maid to the saidis officiaris in poynding or vairding for the said dewtie 1606 Ayr Chart. 122.
Lettres and executoriallis of horning, poinding, and wairding 1609 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 55.
Wayrding 1619 Dundee B. Laws 553.
The officiaris and serjandis … to assist … in wairding of the saidis contravenaris 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI 49.
Vpoun incarcerating of the said Elisabeth, shoe did bitterlie avow that it would be a deir wairdingb. (1) 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 232.
Thay intendit to have biggit … a warding place and a place of pressoun for keping of malefactouris 1574 Treas. Acc. XIII 28.
For the expensis of xvij pledgeis of the south cuntree remaning in Edinburgh thre nychtis quhill thai wer send to thair wairding places 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 136.
Our said cousigne … may nocht without dainger of his life remane in our publict wairding place 1594 Irvine Mun. I 82.
The wairding place to be in the Castell of Blacknes 1600-1610 Melvill 616.
The counsell … remittis the prissouneris to thair wairding-places 1662 Inverness Rec. II 214.
That the warding place for all captiwis for debt sal be the leach counsell hous — 1579–80 Misc. Spald. C. II 216.
All our tolbuithis presonis and warding houssis within our saidis burrowis(2) 1657 Rec. of Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. IV 118.
As the warding buke bers at mare length

4. = Ward n.¹ 5 b. 1611 Reg. Panmure I xcix.
Towardis the north lyes Carnegy, as quha would say the Hors carne, and sa appeires be the nem that swme tymes thear hes beine wardine thear for the horss of Panmor