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

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

Wariso(u)n(e, Warysoun, n. Also: varisoune, waryso(w)n(e, varysoun, waresoun, waresone, urisone. [ME and e.m.E. warison (1297), warysoun (a1300), warisoun (Manning), warysone (Prompt. Parv.), waryson (c1450), OF warison.]

1. A reward, payment, recompense.(a) 1375 Barb. ii 206.
King Eduuard … hycht all Fyfe in warysoun Till him that mycht other ta or sla Robert the Bruce 1375 Barb. x 531.
Giff ony man mycht fundyn be That couth fynd ony iuperty To clymb the wallis … he suld have his warysoun [C. varisoune] 1375 Barb. xx 544 (C).
Warisoune a1400 Leg. S. xx 270.
Wark-man that cane wele be-gyne & mak gud end … Fore his wark sal haf warysone & of his master benysone c1420 Wynt. iii 227.
He slw all, and thare robys fyne He gave to thai thretty … That he heycht tyll warysowne [C. waryson] c1420 Wynt. vi 973 (W).
He gert thai traytouris … Be arrestit … All thare hedis he tuke thaim fra, And quyt thaim sa thare varysoun, That wald haif done him that tressoun c1460 Regim. Princ. 186 (Maitl.).
Dettour … Sparand the law for frendschip luif or feyd For reddour requeist for meid or warisone 1460 Hay Alex. 3466.
For [thocht] ȝe had neuer vther seruice made Till Alexander, ȝe seruit ȝoure warisoun, To saif his men a1500 Henr. Orph. 374.
Than Proserpyne and Pluto bad hym as His warison [Bann. waresoun], and he wald ask rycht noucht, Bot licence wyth his wyf away to pas Till his contree c1475 Wall. x 1128.
For my warisoun, I sall yow help with power at my mycht a1500 K. Hart 459.
My warisoun … Lord pay to me and gif me leif to ryde 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2230.
The crukit comparisouns of ȝour wylde bair Will win ȝow na warisounis a1700 Mare of Colinton 650.
I leave to Claud … For his bounteth and warisoun My hide … For whan he fand me lying sick, … Upon his back he did me cleick [etc.](b) a1568 Scott vi 3.
Luve … of fre will gevis waresone(c) 14.. Orphius 110.
Orpheus tuik his harp in hy The king … knew the hairp vondrous veill And said … 'Thow tell me foir thi vrisone Quhidder thow gat thi harp in [etc.]'

2. With possess.: One's due punishment, one's just deserts. c1420 Wynt. viii 2454 (W).
He bad sla all doune, and nane spaire That brekaris of his pes than ware … And thai suld heif thar warysoun 1535 Stewart 61242.
Robert the Grahame … for his waresoun, Vpoun ane flaik wes traillit throw the toun 1567 Sat. P. iii 198.
And wald the counsall craif his warysoun, The quhilk King James the fyrst in parliament Gaif to his father for ane hie tresoun, Quha did forfault him of his land and rent a1578 Pitsc. I 8/27.
This Cochreine with his companie … gat thair warisoun On Lather brig wer hanged

3. Riches, wealth. ?a1450 Florimond 176.
His schippis maid he redde boun, And in thame did his warisoun, And his tresour haill alswa a1500 Rauf C. 916.
For thy my warysoun is full gude at hame quhair I dwel

4. Security, safety, well-being. c1475 Wall. viii 869.
The ostis wictaill worth scant, and failȝeit fast … The land waistyt, and meit was fer for to wyn … Thai drede full sar for thair awn warysoun [1570 vernysoun]