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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mid(d)in(g, n. Also: -yng, -e(i)n, myd(d)in(g, -yn(g; medding, medyng(e, -yn, -en; meidding, -ane, meidinge. [North. (1333) and north midl. ME. and e.m.E. mydd-, mid(d)in(g, ON. *myki-dyngja; cf. Norw. mykjadyngja, mitting, ODan. møgding(e (mod. mødding).]

1. A heap of dung, manure, compost or refuse of any kind.Also with defining terms, as as-, muk-midding (see below), and caff-, draff-midding (see the first elements).Common in burgh statutes and ordinances, esp. in reference to clearing middens from the streets.Also in proverbs and fig. or in fig. contexts.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 615.
Sowis … That lay by in the myddyng 14.. Acts I. 13/2.
Gif ony man slais an othir mannis hund … he sal wak apon that mannis myddin 1462 Peebles B. Rec. 146.
That na mydyngis ly on the calsay langar than viii days a1500 Peblis to Play 125. a1500 Henr. Fab. 82. 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. 114.
For the vrangvis ledyn of ane myddyn of muk c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 68. 1508 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 465.
Inter Elrig et Blakmiddingis 1517 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 41.
Mydynnes 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 271. c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 189.
Chais na pure tyke frome his midding 1540 Id. Sat. 2183.
For I haue fund ane great horsbane … Vpon Dame Fleschers midding Ib. 4290. 1549 Compl. 12/26.
Ane hen that seikes hyr meyt in the mydding 1552 Grey Friars II. 230. 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 358. 1573–4 Inverness Rec. I. 235. 1576 Edinb. Test. IV. 353 b.
Thrie myddingis of muk price thairof x li. 1570 Leslie 76.
Sum hen fedderis … quhilk yarnit … the mydding and not the skyis 1578 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 73. a1578 Pitsc. II. 84/10. 1584 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 386.
Yerd and grunmale … quhilk was lyan in middingis and haippis 1589–90 Lanark B. Rec. 96.
Mydinis 1590 Crail B. Ct. MS. 3 Nov.
That na wair be keipit togidder or putt in middingis [etc.] 1594 Edinb. Test. XXVII. 92.
Ane midding of fuilȝie lyand vnder the castell wall 1596 Glasgow Chart. II. 569. 1598 Crim. Trials II. 70.
Quhilk man-chyld they … kaist furth of the said hous to the mydding 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 7.
In the ase midding 1603 Brown Paisley I. 200. 1607 Glasgow Prot. X. 132. 1608 Irvine Mun. II. 47.
Midinnis 1608 Conv. Burghs II. 253. 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I. 99.
For casting and carying away of ane midding of deid wark that lay besyd the shaft 1610 Inverurie 195.
Whether to big slapis or … dykes or ground middingis 1612 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 327.
That na manir of persoun cast turfis on the commoun to be maid in middingis for fulȝe 1631 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 322, 327. 1632 Cullen B. Ct. MS. 27 Apr.
That nan preswme to burne middingis thairvpone [the links] 1636 Monteith Stewartry Ct. MS. 19 Jan.
And fund in thair middein ane pig full of scheipe bonis 1645 S. Leith Rec. 57. 1658 Aberd. Council Lett. III. 328. 1667 Highland P. II. 47. 1677 Rothesay B. Rec. 349.
Three marks … for a miding of dung 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 337. 1685 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 371. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 48.
I ha'na house to put my head in But forc't to ligg upon the midden [gl. dung-hill](b) a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 468.
Ay valouand me in that syne As sow a medynge dois vithine Ib. v. 188. 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. 213 a.
A fens … one ane Thome Edȝare medenys 1566 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 69.
That nayne medenis be laid on the hie gait(c) 1609 Crim. Trials III. 42.
Ane of tham that had brokin ward was lyand in ane meiddane(d) 1520 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 58.
That thar ly na medding in the forgait(2) proverbs 1570 Sat. P. xvi. 36.
His craftie counsall will be sene Quhen doggs barkis on the midding a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 75.
A cock is crouse in his own midding Ib. No. 168.
Better wooe over midding nor over mosse Ib. No. 427. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 957.(3) fig. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 33.
O polisand graf and mydding cled with snaw 1581 Burne Disput. 178.
Bot ȝe … ar verie soriful that thay ar not castin in the middinis, or couerit with sectclayth 1588 King Cat. 27 b.
Forgiue me all my sinnes and raise me poor creatur out of the midding 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 292.
Let not our hearts be a … middin of all corruption Ib. 30, 114. 1596 Dalr. II. 4/25.
Almaist was na natioune … of quhilke war nocht in this foul and stinkan midding sum seine 1638 Henderson Serm. 436. a1650 Row 437.
Alace! I see all the middin (or dunghill) of the muck of the corruption of the Kirk of Ingland comeing on upon us 1692 Presb. Eloq. 98.
Sweeping them all out at the door, and casting them out to the midden

b. Attrib. and comb.Midding-erd (-hird, -ȝeird), -feall, earth or turf ? for mixing with manure or compost. Midding-lair = Midding-sted n.: see Lair n.¹ 5, quot. 1692. Midding-mount, an earthwork built of heaped rubbish. (Chuff) midding-churl, see Chuff n.(1) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 175 (Harl.).
Sic scaffing may be callit mydding corne(2) c1500 Rowll Cursing 226.
Thair eiris lyk ane middin tyk c1500-c1512 Dunb. li. 14.
He barkis lyk ane midding tyk c 1680 Bk. Pasquils 189.
No midding-foull did ever mount so high(3) 1535 Stewart 57217.
Semdill … [is] Ane mydding tulȝear in ane battell bydar 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 113.
Ane midding tuilȝour but manheid at assay(4) c1650 Spalding I. 272. Ib. 259.
Edinbrughe is veray diligent in making wp midding mountis … to defend the toun fra the cannon schot fra the castell(5) 1662 Lamont Diary 181.
He was carried out and layd downe on a midden head(6) 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III. 324.
They guid ther land with sea ware, and lightlie midden mucke(7) 1659 Forbes Baron Ct. 224.
Ordanit that … no tennentis … cast hainit gers nor midding hird within proper haning 1670 Urie Baron Ct. 90.
No tennant … sall … cast wp any suard ground or meddow ground for midding feall 1678 Cullen B. Rec. 7 (15 Feb.).
Persewit … for the allagit casting meidinge ȝeird within the said Wm. Hallis mossis(8) c 1670 Haigs of Bemersyde 483.
Middein water and doves-dung mixted Ib.
Midein

2. coll. Heaped manure or other refuse. 1459 Peebles B. Rec. I. 131.
Ony man that layd medyn on the causa c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 97.
Thare laithlie lyning furthwart flypit Quhilk hes the muk and midding wypit

3. A heap, a large quantity, generally. 1692 Presb. Eloq. 93.
Lord, thou rains down middings of blessings upon us