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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vomit, -yt, -eid, n. Also: wom(e)it, womyt, -et(t. [ME and e.m.E. vomyt (Chaucer), vomet (Wyclif), vomit(e (a1400), AF vomit, OF vomite.]

1. The act of vomiting a. Const. indef. art. and pl. b. Without article. c. Const. def. art.a. 1456 Hay II 134/4, 7.
Mycht a man fynd way to mak vomytis anys or twys every moneth it war full spedefull … but grevaunce of the stomak for syk maner of vomytis purgis the stomak with less wering na dois purgaciounis … and specialy syk vomytis suld be tane quhen [etc.] 1460 Hay Alex. 10071.
Mak oft vomytis and fle all displesance 1588 St. A. Kirk S. 623.
Sche hed ane vomeid quhen sche com furthb. a1538 Abell 53a.
Thris on the day he fillit his wame & oft tymes with womyt evacuat it a1538 Abell 83a.
In the hour of his deid for continuat womet he knew him self wnhabil to resaif the body of Christ1641 Anal. Scot. I 134. (see Vomitor(y n.).c. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 318 (H).
The wonbill, the wildfyre, the vomit 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 197.
It was the sairest … sicht that evir scho saw seing the vomit and vexacioun that was on the young Lady Balnagoun and hir cumpany; of the quhilk poysoun [etc.] 1596 Elgin Rec. II 45.
The gudwyif … cam to her hous to stay the vomit of hir barne

2. An emetic. 1456 Hay II 131/21.
To … purge the corps and the membres naturale mesurabily with drinkis, or vomitis gif nede be 1456 Hay II 134/14 (see 1 a above). 1736 Acc. Laird of Goind 2 May.
A vomit 8 s. 1737 Acc. Laird of Goind 25 April.
A vomit 10 s.

3. fig. In allusion to Proverbs xxvi 11 and 2 Peter ii 22. a1538 Abell 52a.
Osrik and Eufred kingis of Northumbir returnit to womyt of infidelite and persewit Christinmen 1554 Knox III 182.
Sic as suld leid filthie dogis to thair vomit agane 1554 Knox III 345.
Better … never to have knawin the treuth then sa suddanlie … to have returnit to thair vomit 1571 Sempill in Sat. P. xxviii 131.
Quhen ȝe began in godlynes to gloir, I tuik my womit wickitlie, in vane, Contrair my conscience I profest befoir, My mynd was than the messes to restoir a1585 Polwart Flyt. 564 (T).
The loun man lik his womeit [H. vomit] 1596 Dalr. II 231/30.
Normond Gourlai, quha confirmet that al heresie he had mensworne afor ony man, bot lyke a dog returnet now to his vomit c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiii 86.
Be not lyk the doge thatt sell His womett lik 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 307.
Let us … try him, if, like a dog, he will lick up his own vomit