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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.

Punis(s)in(g, Puneissing, Punis(c)h(e)ing, vbl. n. Also: punys(s)-, pun(n)es(s)-, pwnis-, pwnys-, pwneis-, puniche-, punesch-, punusch-; ponys(s)- and -yng. [ME and e.m.E. ponyschyng (c1375), punysshing (c1500).] Punishing: the infliction, or the undergoing, of punishment; also, rarely, chastisement which is not retributive.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 737.
Fore-thi I thole this punysing In my sicht & in myn heryng c1420 Ratis R. 1547.
Sice men excedis in doing The cours of Goddis pwnising c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 494.
At a day of punysing sal cum a1500 Lanc. 1960 (see Punis v. 1 (1) pres.). 1513 Doug. xi xvi 19.
To mekill all owt sa cruell punysyng Has thou sufferit a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxvi 32.
Pwneising Id. Ib. clxxix 61.
Sic punusching hauldis ws in awe(b) c1420 Wynt. iv 1905 (W).
For dreid of ponysing and payne(2) 1483 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 103.
And punicheing of the contraveneris of the samen 1511 Crim. Trials I i 74.
Vnder the pane of punising of him with siclike punitioun as thai sald be pvnist 1523 Lennox Mun. 222.
Vnder the pane of confiscatioun of all thair mouable gudis to our vse, and ponyssing of thare personis in example of vtheris a1538 Abell 34b.
Ane bischop negligent anens the sekin & punisin of thame [heretics] he suld be deponit 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 200.
Punnesing 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 531.
Be not punissing of the brokin men 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 418.
Ane pair of irnis with thair schaikills … for keiping and pvneissing of the transgressoures 1604 Aberd. Council Lett. I 96.
Of restrenying and punesching of the gryt multitude of regratoris — ?1623 Melrose P. 516.
Yf your maiestie should preasse vs with … condigne punisheing the disobedients(3) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2652 (B).
Iustice airis … Exercit … for pvnissing of vyce c1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 380.
With owt your grace do extreim justec in punessyng of slawchtir and thift 1564–5 Reg. Privy C. I 318.
Finding the commoun ordour … owir slindir for punissing and dounsetting of this disordour 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. i 507.
Punisching 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 318.
Puneissing a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 35.
Punessing c1650 Spalding I 22.
For not pvnissing of thir grevous offences(4) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 91 (Asl.).
Apon a iuge he maid sic pvnising Becaus [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 415.
Iustly God makith punyssing Ib. 1614.
For to be ane perpetuall sing, Be flude to mak no punyssing(5) a1500 Henr. Prayer (O.U.P.) 35.
Haif mercy of our petous pvnissing a1578 Pitsc. I 66/6.
Throw his unequall punisching of innocencie … ewerie man begane to hait his cruelltie 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 103.
Tuiching the improbatioune of the said … instrument of seasing and punischeing of thair persones and gudis contenit thairintill