Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Phisikis, n. Also: phys- and -ick(e)s. [e.m.E. physicks (1589), rendering L. physica, neut. pl. of physicus Phisik a., Gk. (τὰ) φυσικά ‘natural things’.] a. Natural philosophy, as defined by Aristotle; natural science, physics. b. As the name of Aristotle's treatise. c. As the subject of a University course. — 1585 James VI Ess. 102.
It is … a sure aphorisme in the physickes that the braines of all men beeing naturally colde and wet all dry and hote things should be good for them — 1579 Acts III. 180/1.
The fourt regent sall teiche in Greik samekle of the Phisikis as is neidfull with the spheir — 1628 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 113.
At their returning frome the vacances … they continew repeitting thair logicks ethicks and phisicks