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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Poiso(u)n-, Poysonit, Poyso(u)nd(e, ppl. adj. Also: poys(s)on(n)it, poysonet; poysand, poysoned, poysned; poysont; puisonit; pyssonit. [ME and e.m.E. poysoned, puisund (c 1300), poysenyd (Prompt. Parv.), poysond (a 1485), f. Poisoun v. Cf. Puso(u)nit ppl. adj.] Poisoned, in various senses.

1. Of persons and animals: Affected with or killed by poison. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 139/28.
Of learnet men medicinaris quha persauand ony man intoxicat or poysont be contra poysone curis the pacient
1562-3 Winȝet II 19/27.
Bot that he præfer the helthe of the haill body to ane poysonnit or corruptit membre
1599 Glasgow Barbers 10.
Everie hurt, murtherit, poisonit or onie other persoun tane awa extraordinarly

2. Of things or places: Impregnated, charged or imbued with poison; containing poison, poisonous.

b. Freq. in fig. contexts.(a) 1528 Lynd. Dreme 189.
In to this painefull poysonit pytt of hell
1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 85.
Ane poysonit woll to drink quhat docht it
1590 Crim. Trials I ii 193.
Ane stoup-full of poysonit new aill
1622 Crim. Trials III 514.
Witchcraft can nocht be accomplischet … bot be … poysonet watteris … poysonet oyles … poysonet herbis [etc.]
(b) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 248.
For the maist pairt thairof wes schot with puisonit bullattis
(c) 1580 Digest Justiciary Proc. K. 1.
Schott with ane pyssonit bullatt
b. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10726.
O poysonit paddokis pule
1570 Sat. P. xxii 93.
Thy poysonit edder stangis
a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv 76.
Intoxicat with sorrowis poysonit lance
a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 612 (W).
Thrie prechours, to perswad The poyssonit [Wr. poysonde] slae to pow
1581-1623 James VI Poems II 111/20.
Shall coloured knaues so malapertlie lie And shamelesse sowe there poysoned smitting seede
1619 Garden Elphinstoun 577.
A peruerse poysned platt Of wraethe and wyld enuy
1622 D. Lindesey Heavenly Chariot 67.
The blinde blooddie restlesse seminarie … sowing always where he commeth … his poysoned and poysoning popple

3. fig. a. That has been affected by moral or spiritual poison; corrupted; corrupt. 1567 G. Ball. 9.
Our poysound nature … Can neuer mair this law fulfill
Ib. 52.
For poysand all ar Adamis seid And can not sin refraine
Ib. 211.
Proude, poysonit epecuriens
c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 38.
For poysond pepill with infidelytie

b. Of a thing: That is imbued with moral or spiritual poison; tending to corrupt; spiritually poisonous. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 616.
Ȝour [sc. Venus'] luif … The poysonit vice thairof and turpitude Was the maist caus in cumming of Noes flude
Id. Seven S. 5480.
It is ane poysonit pestilence For to giue ouir haistie credence To ane taill not worth audience
1567 Reg. Privy C. I 537.
That the youtheid be nocht infectit be poysonit doctrine
a1605 Montg. Flyt. 293 (T).
And all the plaigis that euir wes put in Pandorus poysonit purs
c1590 Fowler I 116/120.
With thair knawlege … Arayse lykwyse that poysned spark within thair bowdned hartis

c. Of a person: That is full of moral or spiritual venom or of malignancy; venomous. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 70 (B).
It salbe blawin owt How that thow, poysonit [M. posonit] pelour, gat thy paikis
1560 Rolland Seven S. 3201.
Fals gyglot gangland gill, thow poysonit spewand spout
1562-3 Winȝet I 118 n.
The auld serpent and his poysonit kenling Juliane the Apostate
1587-99 Hume 72/121.
So poysoned breasts with … invy Sum deadlie haitis

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"Poysonit ppl. adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/poysonit>

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