Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Persewing, vbl. n. Also: persheing, pursewing, -suing, -suyng; parsewin. [ME. and e.m.E. pursuynge (Wyclif), persuing (1651).] The action of pursuing, in senses of Persew v.In pursuing, in suit, being sued for, being the object of a claim pursued in a court of law.(1) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 276.
Thaj left the persewing of the saids wallis any farther c 1584 Maxwell Mem. II. 155.
Ȝowr onkyndle parsewin 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV. 294.
Dilatit of contravening of our soverane lords acts of parliament in convocation of his hienes lieges … for coming to the burgh of Pittenweem for pursewing of Wm commendator thereof 1596 Dalr. I. 292/16.
The Danes because thay sie vs kuil in persewing & following the chaisse thay gather force to fecht 1610 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 343.
And … be way of … piracie persewing of thame in all hosteill maner 1636 Orkney Bp. Ct. 98 b.
The persewing of Dauid Beatoun with ane twa handit suord and bastoun 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 244.
Convict for drawing a durk and persewing Johne Dempster … and stricking at him(2) 1494 Acta Conc. I. 325/2.
For the … wrangwis pleying & persewing of thaim 1641 Kingarth Par. Rec. i.
Act for persheing absents from … communione(3) 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 141.
And in persewing of the sadis teyndis before the lordis of our soverane lordis consale 1622 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 202.
The minister being in Edinburghe in persewing ane pairt of his stipend fra the Laird of Spott(4) 1456 Hay I. 119/22 (see Persew v. 9 b).(5) 1483–4 Acta Aud. *131/1.
Persewing of the accioun of bastardy … in the consistory court of Glasgw 1569 Q. Mary Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lix.
And generallie to do all maner of thingis in persewing of the said cause of diuorce(6) 1434–5 Chart. Coupar A. II. 34.
Quhat tyme that thai mak persewing to the rycht and the possessioun of the forsaid landis 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I. 235/2.
That thai ces fra … jornaying calling and persewing for quhatsumever actiouns 1526–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 84.
For fault of nocht entrais and persewing 1564–75 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 27 b.
Commetting to thame thre the ingetting and persewing for the haill … dettis(7) 1638 Henderson Serm. 57.
If so be that the privileges of your burgh had been in pursuing to be taken from you [etc.]