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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.

Cousing, Cowsing, Coosing, n. Also: covsing, cous(s)yng, -ing(e, couseing, couising, cousingne, counsing; cowsyng, -eng; cooseing, coossinge. [Variant of Cousin(e,n., with usual -ing for -in, as in courting, etc. Cf. Cosing and Cusing.]

1. A cousin or kinsman.Also cousing germane: see Germane a.(a) 1452 Douglas Chart. 79.
To … defende the said schir Archibald … lik as a lord aucht to … defende his cousingis and men 1456 Hay I. 263/16.
[If] ony of hir brethir or othir frendis or cousingis will set thair body tharefore Ib. 266/10.
I have grete suspicioun … that thou slew my fader broder or cousyng 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 10.
Of amerciament for the quhilk Wedast Gresone wes bundin for his cousing a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 33–4.
Dreid, … that thow hes dissobeyit My cousing Quintene 1517 Reg. Privy S. I. 449/1.
To remane … trew liegis and subditis to oure soverane lord and his derrest cousing and tutour 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 190.
To the saidis Maister Johne William and Dauid thair cousingis awin and particulare willis and proffettis 1564 Exch. R. XIX. 529.
I … grantis me to becum actit cautioner and sovertie for my cousing a1578 Pitsc. I. 390/15.
The saidis lordis, heirand this dittie gevin in be the said Schir James his awin natiue cousing and freind, gaif nocht the more credence 1592 Acts III. 559/2.
Calling to remembrance how neir … his hienes darrest cousing … is in blude and consanguinitie to his Maiestie 1593 Ib. IV. 25/2.
His said … cousing and allia the king of Denmark(b) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 13.
Aduerteis my lord your cowsing of this Ib. 73.
Johne Kirkcaldie, my cowsing germane 1593 Reg. Morton I. 185.
Ȝour aduerteismentis fra my cowsing Wat 1600-1610 Melvill 168.
I besaught my cowsing to sett me a-land 1625 Garden Kings 53.
His cowsing king he murdred and betrayed 1639 Red Bk. Menteith II. 157.
I find that my cowsing Montros hath caried himself … faithfully(c) a1500 Rauf. C. 897.
Thow slane hes oft … of my counsingis, Soudanis and sib men(d) (c 1580) Clar. i. 1505.
My cousingnis … ar cum heir For me, that heir hes maid lang sojorning 1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 7 b.
He … ordanis Nicol Cowpland his brother and Thomas Telfeir his cousingne … his onlie executouris(e) 1630 Lennox Mun. 344.
Lady Anna Stewart, his Hienes' cooseing

2. Used in addressing a relative. c1420 Wynt. viii. 6769.
The lorde … Saide, ‘Cowsyng, I wend nocht in thé [etc.] 1497 Lennox Mun. 346.
Richt traist and hertlie belouit cousing … , we grete ȝow hertlie wele 1543 Douglas Corr. 152.
Thus, trest cousing, fairweill 15.. Clar. ii. 1703.
Fair cousingne, I weinit our knichts sould thair ransoum bring a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cxii. 30.
Fra tyme he gat the purs in hand He kyndlie cousing callit me 1580 Reg. Morton I. 126.
Richt honorabill and trest cousing … the present is to desyr ȝow [etc.] 1607 Ib. 192.
Right trustye and weilbeloued couseing 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 249.
Worshipfulle and loveinge coossinge 1637 Ib. 263.
Worthie and loveing couseing 1651 Red Bk. Grandtully I. p. xcvii.
Rycht honourabill covsing

3. Used in documents as a personal designation, freq. with adjs., as traist, wele-belovit, or derrest.(a) 1465 Lennox Mun. 78.
Wit ȝe ws to haue gevin … to our welbelouet cousing, Johnne Lorde Dernle, the keping … of oure castell of Rothessay 1478 Reg. Morton II. 243.
We … wil that the said chen and crucifix be deliuerit to our said cousing 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 252/1.
Our traist cousing and counsalour Alexander erle of Huntlie 1518 Peebles B. Rec. 46.
Now laitly, our derrest cousing the Gouernour being absent, the said Johne [etc.] 1550 Reg. Cupar A. III. 80.
Our weilbelouit cousing and familiar seruand, Colyne Campbell 1569 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 25.
Befoir thir witnesses, oure trest cousing and counsellour Robert Lord Boyd [etc.] 1585 Acts III. 418/1.
At last ane pley aganis our couising Patrik lord Gray wes put in his handis 1609 Haddington Corr. 71.
Oure right trustye couseing and counsellour, the Erle of Dounbar 1636 Maxwell Mem. II. 262.
To the right honorable my most lowing coussinge, Sir Johne Maxwell(b) 1578 Glenartney MS. Doc.
That ȝe command and charge our traist cowsing Patrik Lord Drwmonde [etc.] 1580 Douglas Corr. 25.
Our rycht trest cowsing and counsallour, Archibald, Erle of Angus 1604 Stewart Mem. 113.
Our trest cowsing Androw, lord Ochiltrie(c) 1478 Reg. Morton II. 243.
We graunt ws to be … payt be oure louite counsing Iames Erle of Mortoun of the soume of ane hundreth pundis 1564 Red Bk. Menteith II. 401.
Ws … ordanis oure weilbelouittis counsing and brothir, … oure deputis in that part

4. Used in the subscription of letters. 1515 Douglas Corr. 72.
Ȝour cousyng 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 92.
Be yowr cowseng, George Dowglas 1545 Ib. 132.
Yowr graceis hwmyll cowsyng and serwetwr 1550 Hist. Carnegie 29.
Your Gracis hwmyll cowsyng, with serwyce leffwlly 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 247.
I … humblie restis, your honoris loveing couseing and serveand 1639 Ib. 268.
I rest, yowr most lowing cowsing till death 1651 Red Bk. Grandtully I. p. xcvii.
Your honoring covsing and seruant 1683 Haddington Corr. 195.
Your lordships most affectionat coosing and humble servant, Airlie