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. Ibid. (1364), 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. Dymmok, Ireland (1843), 8. Soren is a kinde of allowance over and above the bonaght, which the Galloglass exact vpon the pore people, by waye of spendinge monye, viz. 2s. 8d. for a daye 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 Jrnl Arch., 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 Jrnl Arch., IV. 244. Land modernly held by sorren tenure. Ibid., 246. ‘Sorren land,’ probably for most part arable.
