A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Phetanissa. [e.m.E. and ME. phitonissa, -yssa, -essa (Chaucer), e.m.E. also phaetonissa (1586), med. L. phitonissa (Du Cange), late L. pȳthōnissa (Vulgate, applied to the Witch of Endor), fem. of pȳthō a familiar spirit. See also Phitones.] ? The witch of Endor; ? a name for a particular familiar spirit. — 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 294.
For Phetanissa hes he send With sorcerie and incantationes
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Phetanissa n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/phetanissa>
