ˈsorren Sc. and Ir. Now Hist.
Forms: 3–4 sorthyn, sorchyn, 4 sorryn, sorem, 6 sorehim, sorehon, soren, 7 sorehin, soreine, 9 sorren.
[ad. obs. Irish sorthan, explained as synonymous with coinneamh, coinmheadh (see coynye), ‘free quarters, living at free expense’. The Latinized form sornagium occurs in the 15th cent. Cf. sorn v.]
A service formerly required of vassals in Scotland and Ireland, consisting in giving hospitality to the superior or his men; a sum of money or other contribution given in lieu of this.
| 1289–1308 Charter in Adv. Lib. MS. 34. 3. 25, p. 194 Volo..quod dictus dominus Adam, heredes sui vel assignati,..sint quieti de Sorthyn et Tascal. Ibid., Et volo etiam quod..habeant sorchyn fascal. c 1320 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1912) 533 note, Concessimus eidem quod dictas terras habeat..quiete de Sorem et Freelache. 1364 Ibid. 57/1 Quod dicta baronia est libera de sorryn et fathalos. |
| 1596 Spenser State Irel. (1633) 25 Cuddy, Coshery, Bonnaght, Shrah, Sorehin, and such others; the which (I thinke) were customes at first brought in by the English upon the Irish. Ibid. 104 They..exact upon them..all those kinde of services, yea and the very wilde exactions, Coignie, Livery, Sorehon [etc.]. 1600 J. Dymmok Ireland (1843) 8 Soren is a kind of allowance over and above the bonaght, which the Galloglass exact upon the poor people,..viz. 2s. 3d. for a day and a night. 1621 R. Bolton Statutes Ireland 429 If any person or persons..doe give any Scot or Scots.. being men of warre, any wages, bonaghts, soreine, or any other intertainment. 1856 Ulster Arch. Jrnl. IV. 243 He rendered the chief-rents in victual, called sorren, to McCarthy More. Ibid. 246 The first usage, that of giving sorren, grew in course of time into the formal payment of rent. |
| attrib. 1856 Ulster Arch. Jrnl. IV. 243 Land modernly held by sorren tenure. Ibid. 246 ‘Sorren land,’ probably for most part arable. |