A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Poss, v. [ME and e.m.E. posse (Chaucer, Piers Plowman), also p.t. puste (King Horn), to strike sharply, knock, to dash or toss, (Prompt. Parv.) to push, shove, (1611) to pound, beat down, (1517) ? to plaster, (1677) to trample, also (1575) intr. to trample in mud; of unknown origin like toss of similar meaning: cf. the later Pouse v. and Puls(e v.] a. intr. To thrust at (a person) with a weapon; to knock or hit upon (a person) with one's knees. b. tr. To strike or hit with the knees or feet, to knee, kick or trample. —a. 1513 Doug. x xii 116.
And possand at hym with hys stalwart speir, Apon hym set hys fut 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII 189 b.
He wes so sair brused and strukene be Johne Hane … with his handis … and possit vpon him with his kneyisb. 1513 Doug. xii v 203.
Chorineus … Ruschit on hys fa … And with hys left hand by the hair him claucht, Syne with hys kne hym possit with sic a plat That [etc.] 1569 St. A. Kirk S. 329.
The said Johne schot hir and possit hir wytht his feit, and ruggit the curche of hir heid 1612 Crim. Trials III 243.
Ran vpone him, and with his kneyis and feit possit him vnder his feit, beft and dang him in the heid
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"Poss v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/poss>