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

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

Gang, n. [ME. gang, OE. gang (gong), ON. gang-r.]

1. a. The course of a stream or run of water. 1467 Acta Aud. 8/1.
The actioune … anent the abstractioune of the water of Northesk fra the ald gang and fra the mylne of Kynnabir 1493 Acta Conc. 307/1.
The wrangwis … drawing of the watter out of the auld gang

b. The track in which a mill-horse walks. 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 56.
Efter the bigging of the said myln bringand in ȝeird to the gang of the hors

c. A range or right of pasture. 1533 Carnwath Barony Ct. 159.
The Inqueist ordanis that the dyk salbe maid as ald ws & wont & to be keipit thair gangis siklik as ws & wont

2. The act of walking or going. c1500-c1512 Dunb. li. 23.
His gang garris all ȝour chalmeris schog 1599 Elgin Rec. II. 71.
Lead and oyle, to be delyverrit to Alexander Gordoun, the lorimar, wherwith he may reull the knok and putt hir to the gange

b. A turn of conveying something. 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 88.
To Laurence Tod for ane gang with his grete boit with wall stanis … and to him for twa gang with his small boit

3. A quantity, usually of water or liquor, such as can be carried at one time. 1560 Treas. Acc. XI. 32.
Twa gang of see watter … to mak pickkle 1560 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 43.
Sex gang of aill 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 19.
To gett four tounnis of beir with foure gang of aill 1609 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 21 b.
In the hous thrie gang of aitis at iij li. x s. the gang 1633 M. Works Acc. XXVIII. 17.
Aucht laid of burne for draking the lyme at ij s. the gang

b. A set or usual number of articles. 1564 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 63.
My new hois, reyd dowblet, and ane stand or gang of my ilk day claythis 1568 Edinb. Test. I. 225.
Ane gang of schoing lomes 1580 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 38.
The blak smytht sall tak … for the gang of the grytest horss schone sex s. viii d. 1598 Chart. S. Giles p. cxiii.
It is fund expedient … that the parpell wall … be tayne doun and sett eister mair to the nixt gang of pillers 1629 Dumfries Test. I a. 214 b.
Ane gray Londoune claith cloak lynd throw with velvett, with twa dowle gang of gold laice thairvpon 1637 Edinb. Test. LVIII. 216 b.
Ane pairlit cheinȝie that is thred with thrie gang of pearle togidder 1643 Ib. LX. 207.
In the brewhous … tua wort stand, sex gang of barrellis 1695 Foulis Acc. Bk. 174.
To him for a gang new shoes, and 2 removes to the new horse

4. A number of persons related to, or connected with, each other; a Border clan. 1553 Reg. Privy C. I. 138.
Anent the keping of Liddisdaill; for answer thairto, Robert Ellot, younger, for his gang, and Thomas Armestrang … for his gang 1569 Ib. II. 47.
Johne Johnestoun … is enterit plage … for all that ar cum of the auld gang of Wamfray 1576 Buccleuch Mun. II. 339.
Ressaue the berar … as plege for the gang of Quhithauch