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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pestilence, -ens, n. Also: pestill-, pestyl-, pestel(l)and -ance, -ans, -ansche; pistolence. [ME. and e.m.E. pestelens (Manning), -ilence (Piers Plowman), AF. and F. pestilence, L. pestilentia.] Pestilence, in the usual senses and applications.Cf. Pest n.

1. Any virulent and destructive epidemic disease, of human beings or animals. b. spec. Chiefly, the bubonic plague. c. A particular instance of either of these.Also, once, pestilence-plague.(1) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1197.
Grete pestilens in to tha dayis In Rome fell
c1420 Ratis R. 1606.
Pestelens
c1460 Dietary 42.
Aganis mystis merk and air of pestilens
a1500 Henr. Fab. 1316 (Bann.). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 86/19.
As we se that a mane jnfekkit with pestilence jnfekkis ane vthire
?a1500 Obsecro 81. 1500 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 85.
Twicheing the clengeing of the towne of infect guidis with infectioun of pestilence
1504 Treas. Acc. II. 468.
To tua persounis that wes suspeckit with pestilence and put furth in Dunfermlin
1515–6 Ib. V. 70.
Becaus that thai war hereit be thevis and pestellence
1533 Gau 96/30.
Keip vs fra al thy greit plagis pestilence lipper grangour
1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 196.
Alexr. Ur and his wyfe to be clengers in this apperant tyme of pestilence
1648 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 146.
In this dangerous tyme of pestilence
(2) 1498 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 74.
The daynger of perilous seiknes of pestilence
1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 405.
Throw this seiknes of pestelence being in the partis about Peblis
1520 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 196.
That this contagious seiknes of pestilence spreddis yeirlie throw the repair of infectit personis
1554 Knox III. 104.
Evin as thocht the … quotidiane plagues of pestilence … wer not the present signis of Godis wraith
1584 Reg. Privy C. III. 679. 1635 Dumbarton B. Rec. 48. 1665 S. Ronaldshay 51.
Solemne … fast … for the heavy plague of pestilence in Ingland and harvest in Scotland
(3) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6431.
[In 1349] In Scotland the fyrst pestilens Begouth
Ib. ix. 2107 (C).
The ferde pestilance [: wyolance]
c 1420 Liber Calchou 448.
Her begynnys a nobyl tretyse … for medicene agayne the pestilens iwyll
1456 Acts II. 46/1. a1500 Henr. III. 163/48.
Pestillens
1512–3 Treas. Acc. IV. 404.
To pas with the Kyngis lettres to all borowis … for the gud rewill anent the pestilence
c1515 Asl. MS. I. 216/12, 14.
The pestilens come in Scotland and … it was callit the pestilence but mercy, for thar tuke it nain that euer recouerit
1530 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 332.
[Court of Exchequer held outside Edinburgh] for eschewing of the pestelence now regnand in Edinburgh
1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 107.
Pestelans
1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 43.
Scho past … to hir sisteris hous and vther placis quhar scho lykit, the pestylens and seiknes beand apone hir
1585 Ib. IV. 426.
That nane … sell … any sybois leiks or vngyeouns induring this present pestilence
(b) 1468 Peebles B. Rec. I. 157.
For the kepyn of the town for the pestelansche … the iiij portis … sal be closyt [etc.]
(c) 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 229.
The infectioun and plague of the pistolence
(4) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6365.
That yhere a gret pestilens … Fell on kokis and hennys bath
Ib. 6438. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 19658.
Into this realme thair rang a pestilence fell
a1500 Henr. III. 141/30.
Moir perrellus than ony pestillence
c1580-90 Rules of Health.
A maist dangerous and infectiue pestilence
(5) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 216/11.
The wame ill was so violent that thair deit ma that ȝere than euer thair deit vnder iij pestilens
attrib. 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis fol. 103 b.
And about the doig dayis … thair salbe ane greit infectione the pestylence plague

2. fig. That which is destructive of public peace or well-being; (a source of) moral evil or corruption; a cause of trouble.Also applied to persons (heretics).(1) 1456 Hay I. 3/29.
[To] put this travailland warld in pes and rest that now is put in grete pestilence
Ib. 187/29.
That we have nane samekle a fa na sa evill a pestilence as a familier inymy
a1500 Henr. Fab. 605 (H).
Quhair is thair mair perrillous pestilence Nor gif to learis haistelie credence
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 400 (Harl.).
And euill counsall is [Asl. is ane] spirituall pestilens
1560 Rolland Seven S. 5480.
It is ane poysonit pestilence For to giue ouir haistie credence To ane taill not worth audience
1580 Cath. Tr. 42/24.
The Donatistes quha called the cheare of Rome the cheare of pestilence
(2) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 64/14.
Reid the tractatis of … Iouiniane and of the rest of thai pestilences

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"Pestilence n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pestilence>

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