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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scorpio(u)n, n. Also: -io(u)ne, -iun, -yown. [ME and e.m.E. scorpiun (Ancr. R.), -io(u)n, OF scorpion, -iun, L. scorpiōn-, extended form of scorpius (f. the Gk.)]

1. A scorpion. Also fig. and attrib. (see b below, quot. 1590). c1420 Wynt. i 778.
Off cors he lyk is a lyown, Hys taylle is lyk a scorpyown [W. scorpioune, c. scorpion] 1456 Hay I 29/15.
A maner of bestis callit lungoutis, the quhilkis war of the kynde of scorpiouns with stangis, be the quhilkis ar understandin the fals traytouris Romayns Ib. 29/20.
A scorpioun is as a worm of the erde, the quhilk softly and suetely touchis till mannis flesch, and softly clawis with hir clukis, and plesandly beris hir in company, bot scho has a stang as a serpent, that scho stangis to dede at the last Id. Alex. 17803. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 538 (Asl.).
Thi flesche … fynger fed Sall be the fude of worme & scorpioun c1500 Rowll Cursing 222 (M).
Reid attry lyk ane scorpioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 58.
Revin, raggit ruke, and full of rebaldrie, Scarth fra scorpione, scaldit in scurrilitie Id. Tua Mar. W. 92.
Ane scabbit skarth, ane scorpioun a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 251.
Scorpion vennemous c1510 Prester John 311b.
Tha lye in the nycht one treis for serpentis and scorpionis quhilk ar thar habundant 1528 Lynd. Dreme 324.
And for thare [sc. the damned in hell] clethyng tadis and scorpionis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5434.
Wemen … Quhen thay ar noyit to want ressoun Thay spout than like ane scorpioun by ordour clene 1562-3 Winȝet II 61/15.
Eschew … as fra a scorpioun, as fra a cokintrace, leste thai slay theefig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 179/57.
That scorpion fell [sc. death] has done infek Maister Johne Clerk and James Afflek

b. Oile of scorpionis, oille scorpiun.‘An oily substance formerly prepared from scorpions, used as an antidote against the sting of a scorpion, and for other medicinal purposes’ (OED). 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 27.
Als the oile of scorpionis, viperis, or juniper, ar maist convenient to oynte the arteiris, hart, neisthrillis and stomak 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI 312.
Ane pund oille scorpiun price xxiiij s.

2. With reference to Scorpio, the sign of the Zodiac. c1590 Fowler I 269/10.
To liue a scorpions merk vpon your brow