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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Venyso(u)n, n. Also: venysoune, veniso(u)n, wenyso(u)n(e, wenisoune, veneso(u)n(e, wenesone, venasone, venusone, vennysoun, -sone, venniso(u)n(e, -ssone, -cen(e, wennysoun, venneso(u)n, wennesoun, veinsone, weansone, wanson. [ME and e.m.E. ueneysun (a1300), uenysoun, venisoun (both 14th c.) venyson (a1400), vensun (c1460), veneson (1567), venison (1578), AF veneso(u)n, venison, etc., OF veneson, veneisun, etc., L. vēnatiōn- noun of action f. vēnāri to hunt.]

1. The meat of an animal hunted and killed, chiefly the flesh of the deer. Also attrib.Some examples may belong in 2 below.(a) 1375 Barb. vii 496 (C).
In Glentrwell … he … went weill off to hunt & play, For to purchase thame venysoun [E. venesoun] For than the deir war in sesoun c1475 Wall. iii 317.
King Eduuardis self could nocht get bettir wyn Than thai had thar, warnage and wenysoune Off bestiall in to full gret fusioun c1475 Wall. viii 948.
Wyld der thai slew … This wermen tuk off venysoune gud wayn 1490 Treas. Acc. I 132.
Venison 1491 Treas. Acc. I 181.
Till a man … that brocht a furche of venyson to the king v s. 15… Crawford Mun. Invent. II 180.
Wenisoune c1500 Fyve Bestes 385.
Of wenysoun and wyld meit mak gud cheire 1505 Treas. Acc. III 160.
Venisoun 1513 Doug. iiv 98.
On the greyn gers sat doune, and fillit thaim syne Of fat venyson and nobill auld wyne 1529 Treas. Acc. V 373.
Ane seruand of the Larde of Lus, that brocht venyson and veile to the king x s. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1561.
Ane banket royall wald he maik … With wyld foull, venisoun, and wyne 1587 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 184 (21 April).
Ye sal hawe for ane bwd wenysone and wyildmeit giff it be possible to obteine the same be trawell to your mareage(b) 1375 Barb. vii 503 (see (a) above). c1475 Wall. iv 286.
Sone at a schot a gret hart has he slayne … Sodeynly thar fresche venesoun thai dycht 1526 Treas. Acc. V 256.
To Lord Flemyingis man that brocht the venesoun x s. 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 126.
Venesoune 1574 Reg. Morton I 80.
Desyrit me to prouyd for all the weild meit and wenesone I mycht gwidlie get(c) a1500 Rauf C. 208.
Of capounis and cunningis thay had plentie, With wyne at thair will, and eik vennysoun a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 98.
The wyne was … careit to Dalkeyth, with store of vennisoun and uther great provisioun 1589 Black Bk. Taymouth 245.
The said Johne being directit be his cheif … for getting of vennisoune to have send to Edinburght to his Maiestie's mariage 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 316.
Off wennysoun, vj furtches 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 318.
Vennisoun. Off haill deir, iii; off furches of deir, x; off reais xvii 1671 Sc. Hist. Rev. LXI 153.
For dresseinge of pwts & vennicene 3 s. 6 d. … swpper rostit vennissone 2 s.(d) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1495.
Ane strang lyoun, Vont till be fed with gentill vennesoun c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 190/19.
In burghis … Quhair was … grit plentie, Vennesoun, wyld fowill, wyne and spyce, Ar now now decayid thruch covetyce 1598 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 25 May.
This nycht his majestie maid the bancat to the Duik of Hulster … item for baikin meitt off presenttitt beif off wennesoun of rey ane(e) 1540 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 37.
To ane servand … brocht venasone and aquavite to the kingis graice v s.(f) 1666 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 540.
To Sir Johne Aytoun man that brought venusone £1 4 s.(g) 1598 Stirling Ant. III 310.
Item peis wansonattrib. 1665 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 527.
For venusone py £5 8 s. 1671 Sc. Hist. Rev. LXI 153.
For dressinge of vennicen collops 1 s. 8 d.

2. The animal being hunted or that is killed in hunting, the carcase of an animal killed in hunting. b. In lists of rights in the tenendas clause of charters granting land, etc.: The right to hunt and take wild game. See also Vert n. for further examples.Some examples may belong in 1 above.sing. 1456 Hay I 234/6.
Apon a day he sittand in a busk hyd bydand the venysoun come stalkand by him stillely but wordis Caym. And then Lameth, werand it war a wilde beste … slewe him 1507 Treas. Acc. III 402.
Ane man brocht ane fed ox and veneson fra the Schiref of Air 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 446.
To Duncane Campbell … for ane hors of his that wes slane tursand the kingis vennesoun out of Glenfinlas … v li. vj s. viii d.(b) 1695 Foulis Acc. Bk. 180.
To Colingtounes man, brought me a veinsonecoll. 1375 Barb. iii 472.
Venesoun to get In twa partys ar thai gayne ?1438 Alex. ii 2590.
Men hes me tald That thay haue vennisoun [F. venoison] thik-fald Takin 1456 Hay I 234/5.
He … oft slewe venysoun and brocht hame 1460 Hay Alex. 14064.
Mony wilde beist as thai passit thus Sum venesoun and sum was venemous 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 85.
To tua men of the lard of Wemyes quhilk brocht ane hert and foure raas, xxviij s. … to ane man to haf the samyn venisoun to the queene to Edinburgh, viij s. 1577 Reg. Privy C. II 648.
The said Johnne … accusit the said Johnne Dingwell as a contravenar of the actis of parliament forbiddand to schute at wyld beist, da, ra, and uther vennesoun 1596 Dalr. I 136/18.
The seikeris of wylde beistes, and vennisone 1587-99 Hume 22/181.
All venneson, and vther wilde they serue him [sc. man] at his neid, The scheip, the nolt, & naughtie wormes they do him cleith & feid 1617 Acts IV 547/2.
Schuteing and slayeing of deare venesone and wyild foulles with hagbuttis and with dogges in foirbiddin tyme(b) 1590 Hist. Clan Gregor I 210.
For slaying of weansone to have been sent to our palice of Halierudhousb. (1) 1319 Acts I 118/2.]
[Saluo tantum nobis & heredibus nostris viride grossanum arborum in preducto bosco & venacione similiter si in eade foresta casualiter inueniatur 1498 Reg. Great S. 522/1 (see Vert n. 1 b). 1513 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 228.
Cum libera foresta curijs forestarum amerciamentis et eschaetis earundem vert et wenysoune wrak ware and waith 1541 Frasers of Philorth II 243.
All and sindry the saidis landis … with … halking … wert and vennysoun, with commoun pasture [etc] 1600 Peterkin Orkney & Zetl. I App. 24.
Cum communi pastura libero intruito et exitu cum thole theme furca fossa … et gallous vennysoun waith wais vert [etc.] 1632 Lanark B. Rec. 327.
To be haldin … to the saidis proveist [etc.] … and comountie of the said burghe now present, and their successouris … in all tyme cuming … in frie burghe royall for evir … with furk, fork, sok, sak, thole, thame, vert, vair, wraik, vennysone [etc.] … but revocatioun, etc.(2) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Venysoun.
Venysovn, ane worde vsed in infeftmentes … and signifies licence and power to hunt, take, and slay, of the Kingis venison within his parkes and forrests