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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scathing, vbl. n. Also: skath-, scayth-, skaith-, skayth-, scad-; schath-; schad- and -inge, -yng, -yne. [Scath(e v.]

1. The action of harming in various senses of Scath(e v.(1) 14.. Acts I 336/2.
Thai mak thaim [sc. skinners] maisteris or thai can the craft in grete skaithing of … the peple 1456 Ib. II 46/1.
That na man sulde byrne ane vther mannys hous bot gif it may be done but … skathing of his nychtbouris 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I 166.
That na man tak apon hand to hous sic lyk gudis in pregytis and skathyng of the burgh 1505 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 103.
In hindering or skaithing of the craftis foirsaidis 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 200a.
Schallans for the schadyng hym vith his sov a pec of bere 1533 Ib. fol. 287b.
For schadyne of tham of nechbovreret to the avayll of vii ȝokenys 1534 Ib. fol. 295a.
Schallans fore the wrangus schadyne of hyme in his corn with thare guddis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 117b.
Thou thy selfe full airt had and parte in harming and skaithing of me(2) 1515 Glasgow Chart. II 489.
Ane hewyn spowt of stayne … to kep the said Mowngous drop of the said Patrikis tenement and skathyne of it in tymis cumyng 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 23.
The wronging, hurting or skaithing of his majestys tenement and propperty … to be punished … in the severest way(3) 1513 Prestwick B. Rec. 45.
Accusit George Symsone that he haid a kow … lows & for the principall scaything of vj p[e]kis of ry 1604 Murray Early B. Organ. II 249.
That quhilk … dois wrang to utheris in nichtbourheid or skaything ane another in thair gers or corne [etc.](b) 1521–2 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 121b (see Scath(e n. 6 sing.).
Scadyng(4) 1456 Wemyss Chart. 76.
Swa at ilkan of the said partyis may sekirly haf thar awyne but hendering, werring or scathing(b) c1420 Ratis R. 206.
Is profytable to led … warly thi spekinge It may thé nocht to gret schathinge

2. Costs, expenses. = Scath(e n. 6. 1518 Chart. Coupar A. II 119.
For coistis and skathingis and expensis sustenit be hym thair thro