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

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

Trading, Tred(d)ing, vbl. n. Also: tradeing, tradding, treddyng, tread(d)ing, troding. [ME and e.m.E. tredynge (1410), trading (1590), treading (1523).]

1. Tracking, the following of a trail. (Trad(e v. 2 b.) c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 207.
Quhen ane strange hounter blawis his horne, And all your treddingis gar ȝow tyne, Than sall ȝour laubour be forlorne 1596 Dalr. I 21/10.
Thay finȝie a dwble passage that in treding of the fute thay [sc. the pursuers] may be deceiued

2. Trampling, the act of stepping on something. Also fig. (Trad(e v. 1.)(a) 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. (MC) 20.
In stryking of hir, treddyng of hir in ane gutter(b) 1677 Corshill Baron Ct. 144.
He lost … the vse of two houses … these twelve yeers bygaine, beside the tradeing of his ground about the saidis houses, quhich he referres to the determinatione of the judge 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 21 June.
Making mentioune of ther abuseing and eating and trading of his yaird be ther kyne and follouersfig. 1586 Calderwood IV 505.
Before the usurped jurisdictioun of the Pope of Rome, and troding of the neckes of princes under his feete a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 295.
Commanding of evill turnis aganis rycht and reason, treadding of equitie under fute, toleratioun of all mischeavis [etc.]

3. Trading, dealing, commerce. (Trad(e v. 4, 5.)(1) 1621 Edinb. Test. LI 145b.
I … ordanis … my eldest sone … to remaine and serve the said Jonet my spous in the tredding of timber 1632 Edinb. B. Rec. VII 102.
David Thomesoun … being conveynit for tredding with wynes 1663 Old Ross-shire II 78.
Forsameikle as the incorporatione of this brugh for the maist pairt consist in treading of victual yeirlie(2) 1608 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 44.
Those meynes quhilk may enriche any borrough or citie, quhiche is tradeing and merchandice 1622 Conv. Burghs III 129.
Diuers actes … inhibiting the factouris of Campheir from tredding and vsing of merchandice to thair owne behoove 1625 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 273.
David Andersoun, skipper in Leith, being accused for tredding he being ane unfrieman 1650 Glasgow B. Rec. II 193.
Vntill sik tyme … that the countrey be in sik a posture that thair may be frie tredding a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 250.
A merchant-man and trades-man bestowing his time, pains, estate in trading, may take gain as the wages of his pains 1682 Rothesay B. Rec. 393.
Provyding allwayes the said Johne Kyle keip shope and tradding within the said brugh