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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.

Post, Poist, v. Also: poast. [e.m.E. post(e (1558), f. Post n.², or f. obs. F. poster ‘courir les postes’ (16th c. in Littré).]

1. intr. To travel a. with despatches as an express messenger (Post n.² 2), b. by relays of horses at post-stages (Post n.² 1 b and 5 a). 1532–3 Treas. Acc. VI 123.
To ane boy that postit nycht and day in the northland with lettrez 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 91.
My [sc. Scotland's] lords they post vp dayly to thy [King Charles's] court, … My gentry too and knights [etc.]

c. Appar., to send or furnish a messenger (to a destination).1547 (see Post n.² 1 c).

d. To travel express or ‘post-haste’, more generally.(a) 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 28.
Scho postis to Setounis hous with a verray few a1578 Pitsc. I 54/30.
He come postand to them in all haist 1596 Dalr. II 4/7.
Edward … with speid bak he postis, and hastilie hame returnes Ib. I 253/33. c1650 Spalding II 86.
He postis haistellie to Seatoun, where he brakfast(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6275.
The sext maister … Lap on his hors … Poistit fra hand vnto the empreour 1596–1600 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 425.
For the whilk caus he poistit to the king with diligence a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 248.
And tharefter poistit towart the hous of Dunebirsill(c) 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 105.
Through the ocean speedily they poast

2. tr. To send (a despatch-rider or other messenger) express or ‘post-haste’. 1596 Dalr. II 150/14.
To the King of France he posted a harat with lettres 1614 Melrose P. 152.
Your lordship … will with all haist post back the post c1650 Spalding II 19.
He postis Robert Keith … with ane warrand to convein the tounes people

b. fig. To despatch speedily, hasten, hurry (to death etc.). c. transf. To expedite, bring on more quickly.b. 16.. Herries Mem. 133.
The regent, uith all haste possible, poasted him to death 1670 Caldwell P. 139.
But the thing which posted him into the other world … was [etc.] a1686 Turner Mem. 77.
What was intended for the kings reliefe … posted him to his gravec. a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 202.
Both the processes were posted, and such festination made in them, as [etc.] 1640 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 113.
Besyd the griefe … which postethe my end

3. tr. and intr. with away, on: To send, bring or come quickly, to hasten.tr. 1587 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) I 257.
[Mere pretexts] to post away [Mary's life] 1608 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 65.
These … sinnes, quhilk postis on Goddis judgementis aganes wsintr. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix 403.
Gray haires come posting on 1638 Johnston Diary I 317.
He and E. Home and som barons posted away and outred them to Stirlin 16.. Butler Leighton 257.
This moment is posting away, and that blessed day is hastening forward that shall [etc.]

b. transf. To post ower (tr.), to pass hastily over, to ignore. — 1600-1610 Melvill 413.
Now, the word is ather … past and posted ower or [etc.]

4. To send (a message or letter) by courier or by the postal service. 1600 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 636.
[Which (secret information) being otherways thus] poisted [out beside his majesty's knowledge must justly persuade his highness that (etc.)] 1690 Banff Ann. I 165.
For all letters posted for Edinburgh from outlandish persons 3 s. Sc.