Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pulling, vbl. n. [ME and e.m.E. pulling (Wyclif), e.m.E. polyng (1562). Cf. also Powing.] The action of Pul(l v. in various senses.Plucking (growing plants, hides, sheep); plucking or pulling (another's ear); snatching or tugging (a person); pulling, hauling or drawing down.(1) 1549 Reg. Cupar A. II 60.
Providing alsway that the saidis James … sall nocht … mak inpediment to ony of our tenentis … for pulling of haddar 1561 Inverness Rec. I 61.
For the pulling of the fytshis out of his quhet 1593–4 Ayr Common Good Acc.
To twa boyis for pulling fog to the kirk 1641 Acts V 492/1. 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 13.
For the carieing and pulling of each turs of hether 1666 Ib. 70. 1708 Lanark B. Rec. 275.
Complaint by the glover trade against John Wood, flesher, for pulling and selling wooll and pallats(2) 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 64.
That na outland nor inland beggeris of woll fishe and cornes of honest rank sall repair throw the contrey … begging steilling rouing and pulling of scheip under pretext thairof 1618–19 Black Bk. Taymouth xxxiv.
For pulling thair heidis vj s. 1631 Orkney Bp. Ct. 80.(3) 1632 Linlithgow B. Rec. 20 April.
The great wrong done be James Peeblis … servand in the borrow mylne to … ane of the townes girsteris in pulling his luge(4) 1542 Elgin Rec. I 70.
Thomas Ayir wrangit in the … pulling of the said Dauid Gaw be the crag(5) a1568 Scott i 45.
The pulling doun of policie reprufe 1558-66 Knox I 360.
Thay war entered to the pulling down of the ydollis and dortour 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 236.
For pulling doun of a peill of the said George Chaleris