A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Tercian, -tian, -sian, Tartane, adj. (n.). [ME and e.m.E. tercian (Piers Plowman), L. (febris) tertiāna, OF tierçain.] Of a fever or ague: Recurring (at approximately three-day intervals). Also absol. as noun.adj. a1568 Bann. MS 119a/49.
For cawld scho tuke the fevir tartane [pr. cartane] 1600-1610 Melvill 137.
A heavie tertian fever … quhilk pynned me extreamlie c1610 Melville Mem. 325.
I was seak of a fever tercian or access 1623 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 167.
Tersian 1624–5 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 223.
His Majestie hes had three fitts of a tertian agew a1680 Blair Autob. 7. 1680 Breadalbane P. (Tours) 2b.
His tertian feaver … lasted only some 4 or 5 weeks 1681 Bonckle Kirk S. 60.
No sermon, our minister being sick of a tertian aguenoun 1600-1610 Melvill 248.
A heavie feat of the tertian overtuk me
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Tercian adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 26 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tercian>