A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Phrensie, -ye, n. Also: phrenzie, phrainsie. [e.m.E. phrensie (1591), also (chiefly) frensye (Rolle), fransye (a 1400), reduced var. of Phrenesie n. See also Frenesy n.] lit. and fig. Insanity; delirium; mental derangement, temporary or permanent; an onset of any of these.(1) 1558-66 Knox II. 282.
Phrensye 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 70.
Them that ar trubled with a natural phrensie or manie 1638 Baillie I. 169.
He was overtaken with ane incurable phrensie 1661 Dalyell Darker Superst. 53.
Phrenzie(b) 1610 Dalyell Darker Superst. 53.
[He fell] into ane phrainsie and madnes and took his bed & never rase again(2) fig. 1558 Knox IV. 374.
Their counsel foolishnes and judgment phrensie
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Phrensie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 25 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/phrensie>
