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

Minissing, Menissing, vbl. n. Also: minys-, mynis(s)-, mynysing, -yng; min-, mynwsyng; menesinge; menisching. [e.m.E. mynesyng (1485), minishing.] Lessening, reducing, diminishing; decrease.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xli. 5.
As of habundance is na lessing Na of his riches na mynissing 1478 Acts II. 119/1.
The mynising of vesschiall & barellis that the salmond is pakit in 1485 Ib. 177/1.
Grete dammage … that our … liegis sustenis be the goldsmythis in the mynysyng in the finance of siluer werk 1488 Ib. 213/1. 1489 Lennox Mun. 129.
Mynysing off his autorite 1503 Dunferm. B. Rec. 136.
Amerciat for mynising of the pas of brede 1538 Breadalbane Doc. No. 48.
To hald and haif his heritage and rovmis bute minissing(b) 1449–50 Glasgow Chart. I. ii. 28.
To mak ony mynwsyng preiudice or lattyng to the fredom & kyrk of Glasgu(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 184.
To my joy [to] mak lessing Na to my reward menesinge 1560–61 Inverness Rec. I. 49.
The defraudfull menissing of his rentall(d) c1475 Wall. (1570) i. 361.
Bot blynd he was … Throuch hurt of vainis and menisching of blude

b. Of coins: Reduction by clipping or sweating. 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 430/2.
The said Robertis being fugitive fra the law … for the clipping, rungeing and minysing of our money