A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1650
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(Pouvant,) Pouwant, Powwant, Puwant, n. [Aphetic f. F. épouvante (17th c. in Larousse), MF espouvante: cf. Epouventable adj.] A sudden terror, a panic. — c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 20.
A suddene puwant had so possesed them c1650 Ib. 140.
Or if they for refuge fled back to the main body, they might raise a powwant with such confusion as might vndoubtedly hazard the losse of that day c1650 Ib. 165.
And there was such a pouwant amongest his troupes [etc.]
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"Pouvant n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pouvant>
