vbl. sb. Sc. and north. Also 4 wit(e)ring, -iring, Sc. vittering, -yng. [f. prec. + -ING1.] Information, cognizance; mod. dial. a sign, token (cf. WITTER sb.1 1), a hint.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21583. Þat godd suld send hir witering [Gött. witring] sun, Quat he o þat cros wald ha don.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 342. Iames of Douglas of thare cummyng … had vittering.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., I. 411. Noe first send furþ þe rawin Till get wittering and knawlege Gif þat þe flud begouth to suage.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. iv. 79. And of thair cupling wittering schew the air.
17[?]. Broomfield Hill, viii. in Child, Ballads, I. 394. That was to be wittering true That maiden she had gane.
1781. J. Hutton, Tour to Caves (E.D.S.), Wittering, an hint.
1828. Craven Gloss., Wittering, a hint, a secret report.
1876. Mid-Yorks. Gloss., s.v., I got a wittering o’ ’t from him.
