sorningn.
Scottish.
The action or practice of exacting free quarters and maintenance, or of living at the expense of others.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > [noun] > by irregular means
sorning1506
nobbling1847
mooching1895
scrounging1919
scrounge1927
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting temporarily > [noun] > at another's expense
sorning1506
cosheringc1571
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > [noun] > by (public) authority > exacting free quarters or maintenance
sorning1506
1506 Exch. Rolls Scotl. XII. 704 That ye hald courtis..for stanching of slauchtir, sornyng and oppression.
1563–4 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. I. 271 Colin Campbell..sall ansuer him self for the samyn crymes, sornyngis, oppressionis, and offencis.
1669 in W. Macfarlane Geneal. Coll. (1900) (Sc. Hist. Soc.) I. 63 The Outragious Sornings of Glengairrie's Followers.
1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. i. 322 An habitual, and constant trade of robbing, and sorning, is libelled.
1753 Scots Mag. Sept. 468/2 John Gun, for theft and sorning, was sentenced to be hanged.
1754 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scotl. II. iv. iv. 480 Under which last species of theft may be comprehended sorning, or the taking of meat and drink by force, without paying for it.
1829 W. Scott Antiquary (new ed.) I. Advt. p. ix All laws against sorning, masterful beggary, and every other species of mendicity, being suspended in favour of this privileged class.
1900 R. J. Drummond Apost. Teaching i. 15 Faith was made a plea for indolence and sorning.
Derivatives
ˈsorning adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > [adjective] > by irregular means
sorning1823
scunging1843
scrounging1956
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > [adjective] > seizing by (public) authority > exacting free quarters or maintenance
sorning1823
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well I. viii. 198 A poaching sorning sort of fallow.
1893 A. Agnew Hered. Sheriffs Galloway II. xxxi. 65 This sorning band, who had lived for days at free quarters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1506