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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.

Winnyng, Wyn(n)yng(e, vbl. n. Also: win(n)ing(e, wineing, winging, vin(n)ing, wyn(n)ing(e, wynnying, wynnyn, -and, wynin, vyn(n)ing(e, vyn(n)yng(e, wenyng, weinninge, venyn, vennyng, won(n)yng, -ing, woneing, wooneing, wuning, oynyng, winding. [ME and e.m.E. winning (Cursor M.) winding, wynnyng (Manning), wynnynge (1362), wynninge (1419).]

1. The seizing of a stronghold, town, etc. (Win v. 1.)(a) ?1438 Alex. ii 3478.
For winning salbe hastelly All hale Clarus possessioun [F. tost ert gaaingniés] Gif that we pas may Pharoun c1475 Wall. xi 1149.
Secound he was quhen thai Saynct Jhonstoun tuk. Folowed the king at wynnyng off the toun c1515 Asl. MS I 230/7.
The lordis … remanit still with the oist and … richt wysly & manfully wan the forsaid castell and tynt nocht a man may in the wynnyng of it a1538 Abell 39a.
Fergus … wes in the wynyng of Rome & ane of the principall chiftanis 1591 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 53.
To … assege the said castell … rais fyir and ws all … weirlyk ingyne that can be haid for wynning and recouerie thairof 1667 Highland P. II 47.
He beseedged the Castle of Stroim and used manie ingines in wining of it(b) c1610 Melville Mem. 41.
Some of them [sc. soldiers] alredy within the toun, wer drawen bak again craftely be Leontius wha hendrit the wonnyng therof(c) 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 95.
The principal instrument of wuning the castell, wherby he lost all his lands

2. (The acquisition of) booty, plunder, gain from conquering. Also pl. (Win v. 3.) a1400 Leg. S. xl 1114.
At his sad man can he spere Hou thai had done quhare tha var, & quhat wynnyng thai gat thare ?1438 Alex. i 225.
His winnyng suld be worth this day Ane houndreth thousand pund ?1438 Alex. i 2140.
The king, Dauclene and Tholomere Fra ane great melly cummin were … Bot lytill winning thair thay had 1456 Hay I 114/12.
For thare suld nouthir knycht na gude man of were set him for … covatis of wynnyng of gudis endurand the tyme of the weris c1475 Wall. viii 1340.
Gret Julius, that tribute gat off aw, His wynnyng was in Scotland bot full smawpl. 1456 Hay II 50/12.
Sa suld knycht be enarmyt with richessis of temporale gudis, or ellis he may nocht gudely do his worschip, … and oft tymes gerris mony reveryes and wrang wynnyngis be

3. The action of acquiring something through effort; acquisition, gain, esp. financial gain, profit. Also proverb. Passing into b. The action of earning a living, that which is earned, livelihood, income. Also const. of one's leving, sustenance. (Win v. 4 and 5.)(a) a1400 Leg. S. x 10.
In the tolbuth set Lewy, … Vnlessume wynnynge for to get c1420 Ratis R. 108.
Gret mischef folowis ill vynyng c1420 Ratis R. 677.
Vyninge 1428 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 9 Nov.
Robert Taytt … askyt knawlagyng of the wynnyng up of a land in the sayd burgh be erd & stane qwhilk the sayd Willȝand of Pynkyrton … had wonnyng in defalt of the anuale 1439 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 6.
And that thairof thai sall nocht sell agane for wynning ?a1450 Florimond 46.
Vinning 1488 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 55.
Thai to dele thairvpoun vyning and tynsell as effeiris a1500 Bk. Chess 21.
The wynnyng be the dycis chance As thift or reif it askis restorans c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 475.
In passing of pilgrymage I pride me full mekle Mair for the prese of peple na ony perdoun wynyng c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 190/10.
Halking, hunting and swift hors rynning, Ar chengit all in wrangus wynnyng c1575 Balfour Pract. 636.
Befoir the admiral or his lieutenent have declarit the prizes to be … of just and leasum winning 1629 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 7 May.
He vantit his skair of the vining of the mairt ky sauld be the saidis Robert(b) 1497–8 Halyb. 151.
Tomas is awand me for my part of the venyn of the voll 5 li. 1499 Halyb. 106.
Gaff hym all his mony … excep the wenyng that is to rakyn betwix hym and me 1549 Elgin Rec. I 98.
The haill stok and vennyng of tuenty aucht ellnis … of quhit lynyngis ros claytht 1586 Burntisland B. Ct. 30 Dec.
The said persewar payand him the pryces … with the ten merkis of weinninge(c) a1508 Want of Wyse Men 22 (Bann.).
For warldly wonyng sic walkis quhen wysar winkisproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 103.
All the winning is in the first buying a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 375.
Better winning on draf, nor tyning on goldb. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 57.
Scho in sic luste ay In lyk redy wes to play, & that wynnyng wes lang hir plucht 14.. Acts I 372/2.
And that of all his wynnying … he sal nocht halde bot ij d. til his met and his clathing and ilk thride penny he sal gif to pay his dettis 1456 Hay I 240/13.
The labourage of the erde is … privilegit for the wynnyng of mannis sustenaunce c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 151.
It was the best thing thate man in erde mycht do to mak hyme gud chere of his vynynge & lawbore that he makis here c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 153.
Wynyng c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 186/30.
Uthiris cum to spend it that hes grace Quhilk of the wynning no labour hed na cur 1545–6 (1546) Reg. Great S. 757/2.
In thair lefull marchandice … and bissynes concerning the wynning of thair leving 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II 64 (1 June).
Robe Murray grantit hym of his fre will to gyf owklye to sustene Charle Buchart quha he hes hurt half his wining vntill the said Charle may wirk & laubour 1593–4 Perth Kirk S. in Chron. Perth 63.
The session ordains … to give an poor boy … ten merks to help him to an pack for winning of his living 1605 Aberd. B. Rec. II 274.
Being desyrous to serve againe in this hir native toun, for wynning hir lewing … scho humblie craweit [etc.] 1613 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 19b (7 July).
Patrick Chessour [charged] to bestow his winning vpon sustentatioun of his awin wyif & familie

c. Advantage, profit more generally. a1400 Leg. S. xl 1151.
Quhat wynnyng had ȝe, Tho ȝe had mycht to sla me? ?1438 Alex. ii 3740.
Manance aucht to bere cumpany To wrang winning and succudry a1578 Pitsc. I 37/12.
Gif we do not bot dissent amang our selffis, regairding our awin prevat wining mair nor the weillfair of the realme then [etc.]

d. Something produced through effort, the results of labour. a1500 Bk. Chess 644.
Octoviane … for his douchter chargit he the quene To gar instruct thaim … to spyn & weif perfyte All thing to vs that langit woll or lyn The wynnyng thairof gart he deile it syne Wnto the pure

4. The harvesting of a crop, the whole process from cutting to its safe storage in a barn or the like or, apparently, in some instances specifically the drying process, occurring after cutting but before the bringing in of the crop; that which is harvested, produce. Also const. in. (Win v. 6.)(1) c1420 Wynt. ii 370.
He set thai landys and the male, The fyft part of thare wynnyng hale … At termes to the kyng was tane 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 19.
That thai … furnis the costis & expensis wpone the wyning of the said cornes 1554 Reg. Privy S. IV 483/1.
For the schering, wynning, leding and disponing of the cornis 1576 Compl. Zetl. 28b.
We micht not wait vpoun our hervist for wynning of our cornis 1588 Exch. R. XXI 396.
Mawing, wynning, leiding, and inbrining of the hay … £16 13 s. 4 d. 1626 Elgin Rec. II 196.
Sonday cum aucht dayis to be a publict fast as vse is for the better vinning of the cornes 1656 Edinb. Justices Peace 406.
[The wives of the hinds] are also to be assisting with their husbands in winning their masters hay and peats, setting of his lime-kills, gathering [etc.] 1689 Brechin Test. VII 216b.
The … expens he should happen to depurse for shearing winning and leading the corns(2) 1638 Henderson Serm. 490.
To show your thankfulness for the good and seasonable harvest that ye have gotten from the Lord for the winning in of your corns

b. The cultivation or management of land; the bringing of land under cultivation. (Win v. 6 c.) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 166.
We hafe grantyt hym throch special fauor for wynnyn and gudyn of his land to mak tenandis onder hym othyr in cotary or in husbandry as he thinkis mast profit to hym 1473–4 Reg. Cupar A. I 192.
Gyfit lykys thame to bryng in with thame and to mak ma tenandis for wenyng and laboryng of the ground, we grant thame fredom and speciale lycens [etc.] 1516 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 193.
Villiem Danyeal … hes tane at thaim twa akir of land … for the spaice of xix yeiris haifand heirof ane yeir mail fre for the vyning of the land 1644 Elgin Rec. I 282.
Robert Gibsone … to be summondit … befoir the counsell to be accuisit for wynning out of the tounis

c. The draining of a loch, the reclamation of land by this means. Const. in. 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 222.
He had bein at vast charges and expenssis in drying and wineing in of the said loch

5. The action of extracting a resource, the mining of coal, quarrying of stone, digging of peats, etc. (Win v. 7.)(a) 1450 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 127.
Jhone of Cullace … lattis the inhabitantis off the citte of Brechine til ois and laubur thar commone … baith in pastour castynge and wynnynge of eldinge 1492 Peebles B. Rec. I 194.
For all stanys winning and ledding of termes bygane to the said stepil 1506 Treas. Acc. III 87.
To Andro Matheson, to the colheuch wynnyng in Faukland v li. 1533 Boece 223b.
Victoryne … sending thame … to Britane … to wirk at the myndis for wynnyng of metall, to lauboure at the querrell for stanys and [etc.] 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 71.
To Thomas Myllar vi dais vagis holand and wynnand clay 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II 188.
vj^xx xij fedderis of casting and wyning of petis 1554 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb).
Wynin 1578 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 69a.
Payed to thre men to wyn the powder in the Gray freir ȝaird … payed to fyve men for vynning of powder … iij li. 1581 Mylne Master Masons 60.
For the wynning of ane thousand skailȝie 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines 187b.
For sax dayis wark in wonning of marquisat in Caldermoore at vj s. viij d. a day 1612 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 327.
For stanes woneing and leiding xx lib. 1636 Misc. Spald. C. V 225.
For the better holling and winning of firr in the comonties and comoun moiss 1639 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 415.
For wininge of four grit dowbill odgeris at xxx s. the peice is vi lib. … mair com in upoun Saturday twa grit cart draught for winging and carying x lib. iiii s. 1682 Cullen Kirk S. 16 April.
Conserning the reparation of the church yeard dyks … there was £1 6 s. 8 d. given to Alexander Davidson for winning stons for building of them(b) 1512 Wigtown B. Ct. 1a.
For the vrangus stoppyne of the oynyng his pettis(c) 1627 Rep. Parishes 144.
With auchtine hundrethe laid of peitis casting and wooneing and daylie seruice(d) 1663 Boyd Fam. P. No. 259 (13 Feb.).
The casting and winding of ane hundrethe loadis of peittis yeirlie

6. The accomplishment of a task, the achievement of a goal. (Win v. 8.) 1490 Irland Mir. III 117/6.
Thevis and euill men vnis thame to giddir for the wynnyng of gud

7. The act of bringing a person round to one's way of thinking, conversion to a faith. (Win v. 9.) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 864.
For of a martyre the pynynge Of a thousand wes wynnynge a1538 Abell 89a.
He had marwelus zeill in wynnyng of saulis be ferwer of prechin & prayer

8. The act of winning a battle, dispute, etc.; victory. (Win v. 13.) ?1438 Alex. i 1850.
Thair haif thai maid sic ane meting That athir may prys small his winning c1420 Wynt. ix 2674.
It is off Inglis natioune The commone kend conditioune Off trewis the wertew to foryett Quhen thai will thaim for wynnyng set c1475 Wall. x 577.
Thow was gret caus off wynnyng off Scotland Thocht I began, and tuk the wer on hand I wow to God … I sall thé wenge, or ellis tharfor to de a1578 Pitsc. I 115/9.
That he wald gif him battell athir be tinsall or wyning to put the haill realme in ieopardie 1579 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 442.
Princes have done many things for their friends … and namely such as have been with them in lyke danger … of tyning and woning

9. fig.The action of reaching a particular state or condition. (Win v. 14.) 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 42.
If you would do right seek to win at a well grounded, and well ordered walk, in order to your winning at assurance

10. The action of making one's way to or from a place, person, etc. Also fig., const. throw. (Win v. 15.) a1450 Fifteen Ois 200.
I ask Thé In hour of deid Thow leif nocht me … And grant me with my wyning als Into the blis neuer sall blyn, And all my freindis, mair and myn 1651 Johnston Diary II 89.
[This] … might prevent or delaye his wining to my wyfefig. 1682 Peden Lords Trumpet 21.
The ministers and professors in Scotland … shall find Jordans growing water, and shall find hard winning throw

b. fig.The achieving of a means of challenging at law the validity of a decree. (Cf. Win v. 14 e.) 1694 Fountainhall Decis. I 599.
If that were all the meaning of it, then the remedy the people had of winning into decreets where they were truly lesed, by the mistake of the Lords or otherwise, would be altogether evacuate

11. The action of clearing a space in a mine to allow access to a coal-face. Const. out. (Win v. 18 c.) 1678 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
For wining a rowme out of the levelhead 1681 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 15 Jan.
For winning out a roume

12. The gaining of understanding or knowledge. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 1072.
Than come diuerse medicinaris nere, For wynninge of his stat to spere c1420 Ratis R. 1373.
Forbere gret couatyce … It … blindis hart, wyll & thocht, That thai to resone se rycht nocht Bot as the swetnes of vynning May maist emples to thar ȝarnynge

b. The action of choosing. c1420 Ratis R. 1346.
Men wyll … by thi werkis knaw Quhethir thow to wyce or vertew draw Fore … tyme is thane of dyuisione, That is to say, to mak vynnynge Be-tuex vertwis and vicious thing

13. attrib.Perhaps in senses 4 or 5 above. 15 … (1431) Garth Estate P. Bressay, Shetland.
Sa monnye wynning hors and maris as thair till pertenis