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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dressing, vbl. n. Also: dresing, dres(s)in, dreschyne. [ME. dressynge (c 1440).]

1. The process of putting in order, trimming, etc. 1513–4 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. 185 b.
Pro correctione et lie dressing tegularum 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII. 319.
For dressing and girthing of certane wyne within the castell 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 278.
To ane masoun for the dressing of the j^c stanis, ane dayis wage 1585 Ib. IV. 412.
For repairing of the knok of Lundores, … setting vp thairof and dressing of the sam to haif twa hands 1598 Treas. Acc. MS. 86 b.
For holking out of the bulletis and dressing of thame to the cariage 1621 Maxwell Mem. 334.
To the barbour for dressing of your heid 1633 Edinb. Test. LVI. 172.
To Johne Haig, gairdner, for dresing and weiding of the said ȝaird 1661 Ib. LXX. 154 b.
Ane iron for dressing of cloathes

2. The action of arranging (matters); bringing to an agreement or settlement. 1533 Boece x. viii. 365 b.
Quhill be mediatouris the appoyntment was in dressing betuix him and the Vicomagis 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 293.
To compeir … for dressing of appountment, stancheyng of all debait and contrauersie [etc.] c 1570 Wemyss Chart. 200.
For dressing of certain debattis betuix … the said Schir Jhonnis syster and the said Schir Williamis syster 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 13.
Thair was ane day sett … for making of guid ordour on the bordouris … And thairfoir message was send … to both kingis for dressing heirof 1587 Edinb. Test. XVII. 245.
I leif to Mr John Robertsone for dressing of my bissienes x lib. 1600-1610 Melvill 82.
The verie sam tyme was the platt [= plot] a dressin

3. An ornament; a trimming. 1603 Montgomery Mem. 248.
For the making of ane dresing vith imoratis, and perll, and federis Ib. 250.
For ane dresing of bugell Ib.
For too bustes to kip my dresins 1603 Treas. Acc. MS. 227 b.
For sex tyres dressingis for hir maiesteis heid 1628 Edinb. Test. LIV. 329.
Ane veluot hude and ane paire of dressingis

4. a. Dressing knife, a knife for dressing food. c1500 Rowll Cursing 117.
With skulȝeoun clowttis and dressing knyvis 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 492.
To Dunkane Hunter for a dreschyne knyfe 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 332.
Off dressing knyffis in the kitscheing of Finlarg

b. Dressing burd, = Dressar. Also dressing ambrie, stok. 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 63.
Four akin burdis to be the dressin burd & clething of the dressory wyndo 1534–5 Linlithgow Pal. 320.
For thre akin treis … to be dressin burdis 1542 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 572.
Ane dressing stok of aik 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. 648/2.
In the kitching ane dressing buird, and ane blok stok 1566 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 97.
2 dressing burdis, 3 pannes, 1 bakin trouch, all this in the keching of the said place 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 302.
In the kitching … one old brase broken pott, with one dressing boord 1661 Brechin Test. VI. 207.
Ane dressing ambrie

c. Dressing iron, ? a smoothing iron. 1663 Edinb. Test. LXXI. 148 b.
A pistoll, a morter, and thrie dressing irones