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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1629
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Carioun, Carion, n. Also: caryoun, -own(e, carioune, careoun, carieoun; caryon(e, carione, carrion, carian, karyowne. [ME. cariun, carion, etc., early caroine, caronye, ONF. caroine, caronie.]
1. A dead body; a corpse or carcass.(a) 1375 Barb. xx. 573.
The carioune thair in haly plas Erdit with richt gret vorschip was c1420 Wynt. vii. 510.
Doggys till ete his caryowne 1456 Hay I. 41/26.
Grete foulis … callit voultouris, the quhilkis lyfis bot on dede caryouns of bestis c1450-2 Howlat 981.
Thy nakit cors bot of clay, a foule carioun a1500 Henr. Fab. 803.
Of cace he fand his fatheris carioun, Nakit, new slane a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1175.
Thai … Kest thair cariounis in a place neir by c1515 Asloan MS I. 323/2.
This day all folkis abhorris to se his wyle dedly carioun 1513 Doug. viii. viii. 66–7.
He … The quyk bodeis … Adionyt to the corps and caryoun ded 1533 Bell. Livy I. 251/9.
Waistand oure tyme amang vile cariounis of men and beistis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5169.
Thy vyle corruptit carioun Sall turne in putrefactioun 1602 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 152.
To sie that the watter of Clyid … be keipit clene, and vnpolutit … with deid caryouns 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 591.
[He stoned him as though] he had beene a deid carioun(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xlii. 300.
In quhat place his caryon lay, West nane to this day a1400 Ib. xlvi. 86.
The caryone of fellone Publy To Rome ves brocht 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 176.
By the feyt furth harlyt was onon Of Cacus the deformyt carion 1531 Bell. Boece II. 79.
The campe repleit with deid carionis 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 119/16.
In ane cauerne quhar that the vse vas to cast the carions of condampnit transgressouris 1585 Reg. Privy C. III. 747.
All filth and … carionis to be removed furth of the hie wayes 1580-92 James VI Lusus R. 25.
Of kynde as corbies follouis carrionis uuild [= vile] 1616 Criminal Trials III. 586.
Mair wyld than a carianattrib. 1550 Dundee B. Laws 13.
That na flescher bring carion flesh deid in pot or myre nor [of] any seeknes 1568 Ib. 36.
b. Dead bodies or flesh. a1400 Legends of the Saints vii. 667.
Quhene … the carione wox faste, Thane our the wal thai vald tham cast c1420 Wynt. i. 415.
That foule … fell on caryown all gredy c1420 Wynt. iv. 1005.
The fowlis wyld … That couth of karyowne fele the smelle c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 455.
The reik mellyt with fylth of carioune
2. The body (regarded as something vile). a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 895.
To sit euer soft … In all thair tyme to nuris the carioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 139.
Corrupt carioun, he sall I cry thy senȝie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2636.
He trottit nocht from toun to toun, Beggand to feid his carioun 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 154/20.
Our carions ande corporal natur … is baytht vile ande infekkit 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 186.
O cankerit carionnis, and o ȝe rottin stakis a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxxiv. 34.
Maist fule is he That for the plesour of the caryoun Causis the saull to tyne the lestand blis 1629 Mure Son. xi. 2.
Name spotted … Too long in such a carioun vyle inclois'd
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"Carioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/carioun>
