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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wirkin(g, Wyrkin(g, vbl. n. Also: wirken, virking, -ine, -yne, wyrkyn(e, -en, -ane, werking, -en, workin(g, vorkene, uorkeing, uorken, wourking, woorking, wurking, warking, -in(e, vairkyng. [ME and e.m.E. wircking (Cursor M.), wirkyng (Rolle), worchinge (Piers Plowman), workinge (c1391), werkyng (c1407), wyrchynge (1422), wurkyng (1450), woorkynge (1545).]

1. The doing or performance of (an action or activity), the execution of (an event or deed); a course of action; behaviour, conduct. Also an instance of this. Also pl. (Wirk v. 1.) a1400 Leg. S. xiii 50.
Of the virkine Of ferly werkis that he wrocht
a1400 Leg. S. xiii Prol. 30.
Virkyne
c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 188.
The goddis mercifull virking, For my … trewe seruice in lufe, That has me gevin halely myn asking
1489 Lennox Mun. 130.
The … greit danger … to his hienes … be the masterfull parciall menys and wyrking of the personis vnderwritin
c1490 Irland Asl. MS 6/16.
The … inclinacoun to vyce and to evill wirking
1492 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 64.
For the halding of the counsale in the wirking of the commoun proffeitt
1562-3 Winȝet I 122/18.
Euery man sall resaue rewarde of God conforme to his wirking in his body heir
1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 164/20.
As gif God var nocht alyk potent in al place, and his pouar of virking miraclis var limitat to the pairtis onlie quhair your sanctis var bureit
c1590 Fowler I 280/177.
Lord, in wourking against him … Thow shewest by this the way
1590 Burel Pilgr. ii 167.
Thir catiffs … Still lurking in wurking Sum mater of mishap
1608 Breadalbane Lett. 4 July.
Ony sequele … hes procedit be ȝoure awin … doing and not be my wirking
c1650 Spalding I 224.
This royal King wes … borne doun … by the meinis and wirking of his disloyall deceaving courteouris
pl. 1488 Crim. Trials I i 11.
This court … schewis … that Johne the Ros … has committ and done tressoune … in the pointis and articlis abone writtin contenit in the summondis maid thairapone except the wyrkings [L. factis] maid at Abirdene

b. specif.The creative activity of God more generally; the influence on a person or society of God or, esp., the Holy Spirit. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1622.
The hie prudence, and wirking meruelous. The profound wit off God ommipotent … Is sa perfyte … Excellent far all mannis iugement
c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ephes. iii 7.
The gift of Goddis grace, quhilk is gevin to me be the wirking [W. worchinge, P. worchyng] of His vertue
1533 Gau 55/22.
Be the grace and virkine of the Halie Spreit
1565 Crail Kirk S. 18 Dec.
Becauis thai hawe not the invart vairkyng of the Halie Goist
1567 G. Ball. 14.
Throw wirking of the Spirite in til our hart
a1568 Bann. MS 38a/20.
Cawsit be God be wirking marvellus
1558-66 Knox II 384.
From the begyning of Goddis myghty wirking within this realme
1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 128.
Except the Lord continue the draught and working of His Halie Spirit
1638 Johnston Diary I 384.
To acknouledge befor Him the solenes, immediatnes, of His working

2. The activity involved in making something on the execution of a process; workmanship, esp. as a separate element in the cost of goods, etc. (Wirk v. 9, 10.)(a) 1428 Ayr B. Ct. 121b.
Item for a clof off irn to the wys xvi d. Item viii d. for the wyrkyn off it
1488 Treas. Acc. I 163.
Item, for golde, siluer, aysure and odir colouris til it, and wyrkin, viij li. xviij s.
1494 Treas. Acc. I 250.
For the wyrkyne of the ryngis to the barge vj d.
1496 Treas. Acc. I 292.
To Thom Barkar for irne wyrking to the artailȝery
1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV 18.
Payit … for dichting and wirking of the said lesartis
1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 95.
For the grete lycht … in the vest gavill … wirking and lauboring
1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 256.
For … five gret stane imagis … ilk pece hewing and wirking … lvi s.
1573–4 Day-bk. J. Kyle 1a.
For viij punds irn to be bandis & klekis … & wirkin of thaim ix s. vj d.
1593 Glasgow Weavers 47.
Throw diversitie of price for wirking of herdein
1593 Glasgow Weavers 47.
In case the worker sall tak les nor vj d. for ilk elne of herdin wirking [etc.]
1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 294.
For sex laid of coilles to assay the wirking of the craig
(b) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 278.
Werking
1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 295.
Werken
1624 Linlithgow B. Rec. 16 April.
For the werking of nynetein custumes peckis
(c) 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 189.
For … xvi stanis leid working apon the said ruiff
1642 Robertson Cullen Ch. Ann. 72.
For iron, and working panes to the kirk windows
1663 Nicolson Diurnals 31 Oct.
For 64 ells plaiding working at 1 s. the ell
1683 Cupar Trades 19 Jan.
Mor uorken of the fringes … mor for the maken of the cloth
1686 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 222.
To George Brown sclater for working the lime and pointing the school
(d) 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 359.
To the broudstar for wourking of the mort heids

b. ? A quantity of cloth produced on one occasion or ? cloth enhanced in some way during its production. (Wirk v. 9 or 10. Cf. Wrocht ppl. adj. b.) 1649 Edinb. Test. LXIV 110a.
Ane tabill clothe and fyvteine warkines of dameis

3. a. The action of tilling and managing (land, a farm). (Wirk v. 9 b.) 1642 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 24 March.
His will is that his sone enter presently to the working of the Bishopton and his wyffe … equallie betuixt them induring his take

b. In mining: The extraction of a mineral; the exploitation of a mine or seam. (Wirk v. 9 c.) 1584 Acts III 369/1.
Our said souerane lord … inhibitis … all and sindrie liegis … of all wirking, handilling, or mellin with onie golden siluer tin copper and leidin mynes … nor ȝit searche discover nor find out the same
1672 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 14 Dec.
For warking whyt ston with coalle
1680 Fawside Coal Compt 56 (see *Hich n. b). 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 59.
For a new buckitt to the working 8 s.
1680 Fawside Coal Compt 80.
For the mynd uorkeing & beireing £7 4 s.

c. The digging up of (something). 1705 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 48.
The great skaith done by swine by houcking and working up the common grass

4. The functioning or action (of a system, process, etc.). c1475 Wall. iii 6.
Als bestiall, thar rycht cours till endur, Weyle helpyt ar be wyrkyn off natur
c1475 Wall. vi 10.
In Aperill quhen cleithit is … The abill grounde be wyrking off natur
1490 Irland Mir. III 63/29.
To haue gret displesaunce of the bodely thingis and thole dolour payn & tourment be thar operacioun and wyrkin
1560 Rolland Seven S. 9690.
[The poison] … tuik na infectioun In his entrales, bot brak furth fra his hart, … Sa be wirking within ane schort proces, It was conuert in vther sair seiknes
a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 23/59.
Materis … Quhilk be the wirking of the warld may faile
a1578 Pitsc. I 149/18.
Thair fell in the realme gret dissobedience … Thair was na thing bot workin of wengence
1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 32/23.
They can … take the life of men … by rosting of the pictures … And that knauish … woorkeman by troubling him onely at some times makes a proportion so neare betuixt the woorking of the one and the other that both sall ende … at one time

b. A spasm or episode (of pain). 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 421.
Efter this speiking he … tuke a gritter and mair vehement working, for he never spak … but with grit payne

c. The motion of (the sea). c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 529.
The sea hath almost with continual wirking rent the iland in two

5. The action of carrying out a task or job of work; one's daily labour. (Wirk v. 16, 11.) b. transf.The conditions or location of working. 1494 Treas. Acc. I 245.
Wirken … wyrken
1494 Treas. Acc. I 250.
To Stene, smyth, for v wolkis and ij dayis wyrkane in the smede
1557–8 Ayr Common Good Acc.
To Robert Houstoun for vorkene at the bastalȝie
1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 10.
At the wyrking of the gait to Aberlady
1579 Acts III 138/2.
That na handy lauboring or wirking be vsede on the Sonday
1583 St. A. Baxter Bks. 34.
That na fremen … ressaif ony fremen in thair baikhous for handling or virking of ony aitt braid
1688 Dunferm. Hammermen MS 18.
Na armorer tak in hand to hurt the cuttellar be ony wark wirking
1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I 60.
Thair [sc. the craftsmen's] haill warkis, ather wrocht or in working
1599 St. A. Kirk S. 894.
James Craig … confest his wirking … in tyme of preaching
1607 Glasgow Trades House 9.
To tak ony task of new work wirking heireftir
c1650 Spalding I 216.
All fortificationis to desist, and no farder wirking thairin
1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 451.
To proceid to the working and coining of the saids tuo merk … peices
b. 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 677.
[Warrant … to the officers of the cunyiehouse for remaining with the] … worklowmis of the cunyiehouse [in the toun of Leyth til they should have] commodious working [either in Dundie or in Edinburgh]

6. The fermentation of ale. (Wirk v. 17.) 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 106.
Haveing gottin ane drink of new aill ye was not content and befoir ye was tua pair buttis from the hous the aill left working

7. attrib. and comb. Wirking buird, ? a workman's bench. Working canves or crap, ? cloth to be worked or undergo some process of decoration or ? to be put to some purpose. Wirking geir, equipment for some job of work. Working greath, = wirking geir, specif. harness. Working hand, the hand which acts (to guide a horse), the right hand. Wirkin lim (Lume n.), a tool. 1568 Edinb. Test. I 119b.
Twa working burdis
1615 Edinb. Test. XLIX 14a.
[Dauid Pottar wrycht] ane wirking buird of elme
1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 319.
Working canves for cusheonis
1695 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 166.
For working crap for curtins £6 1 s.
1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI 84b.
He leuis to … his eldest sone the haill wirking geir about the hous
1656 Brechin Test. VI 45b.
Four horse with ther working greath
1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 364 (see Wand n. 12 b).
Working-hand
1460 Hay Alex. 16084.
And tak with him wrichtis that subtell ware With all thare wirkin limmys … To mak ane schip

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"Wirkin vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/wirking>

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