A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1420, 1501-1513
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Bysning, Bisning, n. and a. Also: bysninge, bysnyng (bysmyng), bysnyne. [f. Bysyn n.]
1. A monster; a wretch. a1400 Legends of the Saints xl. 646.
To the puple in vondrynge Sa wes it borne a bysnyng a1400 Ib. 701.
That bysnyne to this tuk kepe 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 499.
Ilk wicht hes sum weilfair at obeysance Saif me bysning, that may na grace ressaue 1501 Ib. ii. 63.
To justifie this bysning quhilk blasphemit
2. Attrib. or as adj.: Monstrous. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi. 608.
Thu art a wondir bysnyng beste Til ws al a1400 Ib. xxxiv. 268; etc.
To mak hethinge Of me as of a bysninge thinge c1420 Wynt. vi. 1155.
Til a bisyn [Au. E2 bysnyng] best al lyk 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 614.
That Venus suld … In till sum bysning beist transfigurat me 1513 Id. Æn. vi. iv. 105.
The bysnyng best, the serpent of Lerna 1513 Ib. vii. v. 110.
That bysmyng [sic] belch
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"Bysning n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bysning>
