Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Pungitive, Pungetyve, adj. (adv.) Also: -iwe, ywe, -yfe. [med. L. pungitivus (c 1190 in Latham), pungent, poignant, prickly, irreg. f. L. pungere to prick, Punge v.; e.m.E. pungitiue (1586), F. pongitif (16th c. in Littré).] Having the quality of pricking, in various non-material applications.In early use, appar. only Sc.

1. Of non-material things: Hurtful to the mind or spirit; painfully sharp. a1500 Henr. III 166/29 (Bann.).
Suppois our syn be to Thé pungityve [Bann. Dr. pungetyfe] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1147.
Syne ȝaild the spreit, with panes pungityue 1531 Bell. Boece I xv.
The pane and dolour ar sa pungitive, No medicine the pacient avalis a1561 Norvell Meroure 51b.
The end of cair and thoght, most pungetyfe a1568 Bannatyne Bann. MS 231a/40.
With sichis soir and cairis pungetyve

b. Of words: Sharp, stinging, trenchant. 1533 Bell. Livy II 10/25.
Specially sic wourdis that ar maist pungitive be … womanlie doloure 1535 Stewart 47972.
In lichtlie langage and richt pungetywe Ib. 5219. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 635.

c. adv. Sharply, keenly. 1535 Stewart 60143.
Quhen this ansuer to the lord wes rehersit, So pungitiwe out-throw the hart it persit, Quaikand for dreid he wist nocht quhat till do

2. Of weather: Sharp, penetrative. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 39.
The dasy and the maryguld … lay with thair leuis happit Thame to reserue fra rewmes pungitiue c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 21.
The wedder than is sumpart pungitiue

3. Of a person. a. Sharp-tongued, quick to reprove or scold. b. Extremely fierce, savagely hostile. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 229.
Under smyling scho was … Angrie as ony serpent vennemous Richt pungitiue with wordis odious 1535 Stewart 19692.
Lyke wod wolffis rampand in ane rage, So pungitiue wes euirilk man and paige Vpoune the Romanis … , Lyke brutell beistis [etc.]