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.

Quhit(e)-fisching, -yng, n. Also: quhyte-, quhyt(t)-, whit(e)-, whyt- and -fish-. [Only Sc. Cf. Quhit(e)-fis(c)h(en., and Red(e)-fisching.] The act or occupation of catching Quhit(e)-fis(c)h(e. b. transf. = Quhit(e)-fis(c)h(e n.Also pl.sing. ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 60.
Ane ile callit Colvansay … gude for quhyte fishing 1611 Fam. Rose 305.
Cum lie steall et yearis halecum et salmonum piscationibus et lie quhyttfishing 1645 Aberd. Council Lett. III 7.
To have receaved … [£84] … for the teynd of the whyt fishing c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 531.
Aboundance is therin of herring and whit fishing 1654 Burnett of Leys App. 285.
Quhytfishing 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 79.
The white fishing they call the killin [etc.] Ib. (OED).
For herring, white and grey fishingpl. 1527 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 248.
To … inbryng to thar awin proffetis … takis steddeinis bottis quhit fischyngis of the said barony ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 83.
Thair enteris twa great salt water lochis of quhyte fischings 1600 Reg. Great S. 341/1.
Quhite-fischingis 1627 Laing Chart. 481.