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

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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.

Wering, -yng, vbl. n. Also: ver-, weiring, veiring, wearyng, -ing, weareing, uearing, werring, wyring, (werying). [ME and e.m.E. weriunge (Ancr. R.), weryng (1340), wering (c1400), wearyng (1542), wearing (1581).]

1. The wearing of a garment, accessories, etc. b. With possess. One's wardrobe, one's clothing. (Wer(e v.³ 1.) 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 171/31.
From veiring of Christs croce and image, to behalding of thair auin dissimilat visage 1593 Lennox Mun. 463.
We have avowit and interdytit our selffis from weiring of ony clething … that salbe ony wys begaried, laid ower or smered with ony kind of pasimentis [etc.] 1616 Irvine Mun. II 49.
The weiring of clokis and plaiddisb. 1603 Philotus 175.
Quaiffis and kellis … All for ȝour weiring and not ellis 1605 Murray Early B. Organ. I 489 n.
Fremen and fremens wyfis sall have libertie to pull skinis, and withe the woll thairof to mak cleithis to thair awin use and wearing allanerlie

c. attrib.With clathis, kirtill, rings, etc.: Clothes, jewellery, etc. intended for everyday use. 1575 Edinb. Test. III 399.
He levis his haill wering clathis to his eldest sone 1583 Edinb. Test. XII 179b.
Sche left … to … his foster mother hir dalie wering kirtill 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I 91.
Velvettis satingis silks of all sorts for thair Maiesties werring clething 1607 Edinb. Test. XLII 361b.
Scho leuis … to Katrene Murdoch hir vering vylecoit and hir ganging plaidis 1613 Edinb. Test. XLVII 246.
The rest of the weiring lyning claithis of hir body scho leiuis to … Cristiane Broune 1661 Acts VII 253/1.
Plaids called weareing plaids ilk hundred ells 1665 Grant Chart. 353.
To my eldest son … my best dymond ring and uearing rings 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 202.
Tua shirts quhilks war the said William Raine his oun wearing shirts a1686 Turner Mem. 122.
All we had except our wearing clothes was impauned

2. The act of carrying a weapon, the carrying of a weapon about one's person. (Wer(e v.³ 2.) 1580 Conv. Burghs I 103.
The actis maid … anent … bering, wering and schuting of culueringis and daggis within burrowis 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 293.
Delatit of convocation of our soverane lords lieges bearing and wearing of pistoletts coming to the toun of Pittenweem, committed in January last bypast 1603 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 36.
[For the alleged] beiring, weiring & schuting with pistollis 1627 Justiciary Cases I 83.
For assageing of the house of Newbie beiring and weiring of hagbuttis and pistolettis, hurting and wounding thairuith of Eduard Johnestoun … and [etc.] 1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 270.
Notwithstanding [thar] … wearing of guns, pistols, halberts and other fire works … are crimes of a high nature

3. The act of causing a change in state or opinion. (Wer(e v.³ 4 d.) a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 335.
The most solid way of wearing all other beloveds out of request with the soul

b. Const. awa.The action of preventing water from flooding the land, the damming or holding back of water. (Cf. Wer(e v.³ 4 b.) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 177.
For the defens of the said land for the weryng awa of watter alsfer as thar bundys rekys tha sal gif al possibil cure and laubour til hald furth the watter with makyn of perys als mony as nedis and plantation of willeis

4. The action of wasting away due to constant use, the passage of time, etc., erosion, wear and tear, deterioration, damage. 1494 Loutfut MS 40a.
Fers till hors sustenys and beris the hors and kepis his feit for werying [Deidis of Armorie 58, forweryng] in the way c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 129/31.
My work sall hald, Als haill in everie circumstance, In forme, in mater and substance, But wering or consumptioun, … As ony of thair werkis all 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 396.
Gif it sall happin the said brig be lang proces of tym inundatioun of spaitt water weiring of grund … to … brek doun or fall 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 120.
The oft using and weiring of the auld instrument hes sa worne the letters and ink that the wreitt appeiris sumthing war nor it wes in deid 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI 244b.
I leiff to my spous … my haill insycht plenesing … to be vsit be hir … and hir to mak thame furtht cumand efter hir deceis to my airis saifand eild and weiring 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 54.
To Jhonne Thomesone maisoun in consyderatioun of his gryit panes in harling about of the haill auld wark and in waisting and wyring of his clothes

b. Const. out.The gradual using up of (with) a resource. (Wer(e v.³ 5 b.) 1627 Rep. Parishes 132.
The overtowne of Saltowne … payes … threttie chalderis thrie bolles victuall … haveing the casualitie of lyming and lyme quarrell … and may pay communibus annis wanting the casualities foirsaid that is to say … weiring out with lyme may pay tuentie chalder of wictuall

5. Deterioration in health of a person or part of the body. Also const. away. (Wer(e v.³ 6.) 1456 Hay II 134/7.
Syk maner of vomytis purgis the stomak with les wering na dois purgaciounis that passis throu be art of medicynis of all evill humouris 1654 Johnston Diary II 240.
Hearing of my lord Craighall his fayling and wearyng away, I went to him