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

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

Tasting, Taisting, vbl. n. Also: tastyne, teast(t)ing. [ME and e.m.E. tastinge (Gower), tastyng (14th c.).]

1. The sense of taste. = Tast(e n. 4. a1400 Leg. S. vi 407.
In the hewid of man Ar wittis four, … As sycht, herynge, gustyne, tastyne a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 225/12.
My wittis fyve … hering seying twiching taisting [OUP gusting] smelling

2. The action, or an instance, of consuming (food and drink). a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 82.
That he [sc. Adam] mycht, throw taisting Off the appill, be lik to God, & kend Baith gude and ill 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 195.
Thow art accusit, for the crewall slauchter … of … youre nourrice, quha deit eftir the taisting of the pyg of poysoun 1596 Dalr. I 89/12.
The Scottis … draue nocht ouer thair age in … taisting fyne wines, and the sueitter drinkes

3. A small quantity (of something) taken to assess the taste, a sample; the action of assessing or sampling by taste. 1658 Laing MSS 309.
I intreat yow and your lady will take in good part a teastting of our wastland hearrings and Glasgowe acquavytie to disgestt them 1686 Fountainhall Decis. I 429.
The Lords … appointed a probation to be led, if tasting and spealling of a puncheon was the symbol of a perfected vendition of wines

b. attrib. With tas(s (Tass(e n.¹), = Tastar n. 2. 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 241b.
Ane littill silver taisting tas of four vnce wecht 1624 Edinb. Test. LII 299b.
Four siluer peices and tasting tassis 1642 Edinb. Test. LX 90b.
Ane dossane of spoones and twa littell tassis and ane taisting tass estimat al to [£12 13 s. 4 d.] 1656 Edinb. Test. LXVIII 247b.
A teasting tasses [sic]