A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1672
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Fusioun(e, Fusoun, n. Also: fusion(e, fussioune, fuson, fwsoun, fussoun. [ME. fusioun(e, fusoun, fusun (a 1300), OF. fuson, fuison, var. of foison Foisone.]
1. Abundance, plenty.(a) 1375 Barb. ix. 439 (E).
The lave … Sesyt to thaim in to gret fusoun Men, and armyng, and marchandis a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx. 41.
In the towne Dwelt a man of gud renone, & had fuson of warldis thingis c1420 Wynt. viii. 5497.
Thai had markat ilke day, And wyttaile in to gret fwsown ?1438 Alex. i. 7.
Ane stalwart castel gart he mak, … & hes gud fuson thidder send ?1438 Ib. 292.
Quhill … my blude into great fusoun Be fletand on my arsoun c1450-2 Howlat 979.
Thi cost cummis nocht of thé Bot of … Godis fusoun a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 210.
Thus full freschlie thay fure into fusoun a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 336.
The tre … That bure the frut on sic fussoun(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xx. 237.
The presydent … Gert melt leyd in fusione a1400 Ib. xxvii. 795.
Sancte Machore … Gat gud vatere in fusione c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iii. 318.
Than thai had thar warnage and wenysoune Off bestiall in to full gret fusioun c1475 Ib. iv. 383.
Kerlye brocht thaim in fusioun Gude thing eneuch a1500 Golagros and Gawane 222.
Thus refreschit he his folk in gret fusioun 15.. Clariodus v. 1798.
Anon the coursis come with sik fusioun That I wald irk for to report them heire c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii. 900.
Quhair all vertew dois flurische with fusioun
2. Substance, essential quality; nourishing element in anything. 1644 Strathbogie Presb. 50.
He had vanted the fusioun of his corne, but if he vold caus his vyf to giue him a shirt, he sould mak him gett his fusioune of his corne againe 1650 Elgin Rec. II. 276.
William Duncan said that David Taillor … and Androw Williamsone … sould want the schillok, alias fussion of there corne 1662 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 25.
There being another article of her dittay, for taking away the fusion of some meal 1662 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXII. 229.
She desired … Robert Wilson and Bessie Neil to come and get the fisson of his ale 1672 in Low Tour Orkn. (1879) 7.
Elspit Smith … , by sending for ane pynt of aill, … did thereby take awa the fruit and fusion of ane dusson of pynts or thereby that remained in the vessel
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"Fusioun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fusioune>
