A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1531-1689
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Sonsy, -ie, adj. Also: soncy, -ie, sonsay, sonse. [Sons n.]
1. a. Of persons or things: Bringing, or blessed with, good fortune; fortunate, lucky. b. Of things: Propitious; of good omen.Freq. in the context of magic or witchcraft.a. (1) 1575 St. A. Kirk S. 416.
Pay desyrit hir gude-man to pas to the coles witht Dauid Robertson, becaus he was ane sonsy man 1634 Black Sc. Witches 16.
The pannel was not sonsie in regard she had great society with Patrick Smith a nottorious warlock 1681 Aberd. Kirk S. in Ross Aberdour 332.
[She said that Elspeth was] not sonsiesuperl. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 51/8.
Whome these kinde of spirites carryed awaie, and informed, they were thought to be sonsiest and of best lifetransf. 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 545.
The said Marrion … said that scho had ane sonsie hand 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 553.
Ye urgit it more and more upon hir and saide, ‘I have ane sonsay hand and my mother befoir my day’(2) 1533 Boece 543.
All officis ar sonsy and gif thai be wyisly vsit thai may be proffitable 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 28.
That were a soncie rattling in a parish; that thou that is a Christian never sooner wins to the back of a dyke, but thine heart melts for thine iniquitiescompar. 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 45/17.
Some were so blinded, as to beleeue that their house was all the sonsier, as they called it, that such spirites [sc. brownies] resorted there 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 9.
Agnes Forgushill … declairit that Kaithrein Makteir … offerit hir ane stain, saying that the hous wald be the sonsier it was aboutb. 1531 Bell. Boece I 16.
To give thame the more esperance of permanent and sonse weird, he send with thame the fatale chiar of marbill 1533 Bell. Livy I 80/32.
Apperit … discending fra the maist sonsy parte of [the] hevin on the left hand
2. Sound, sensible. Also comb. in soncy-like.(1) 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 181.
Thay ar not sonsy that so dois ruse thame sell a1689 Cleland 105.
It is a good old sonsie saying, That little wit makes meikle straying(2) 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 72.
It is never a soncy-like manifestation, that makes proud; it is but a carnal and vain confidence that they have embraced
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"Sonsy adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sonsy>
