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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.

Pouse, Pouss(e, Puss, v. Also: powss(e. [Sc. form corresp. to e.m.E. and late ME pussh (15th c.), pusche (c 1450), posshe(n (14th–15th c.): see Pus(c)h(e.Appar. later var., with sense development, of Poss v., appar. influenced by (? rather than derived f.) F. pousser (c 1360, Froisart) (cf. also Puls(e v.).]

To push.

1. tr. To push or shove; to move as by pushing; also ? fig. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 890 (L).
The strange ay, with wrang ay, Pvssis [v.rr. Puts, Put] waikar to [the] wallis c1590 J. Stewart 143 § 2.
Spreits of Pernas, than pous my pen ane space To praise quhair praise deseruit dois abound 1587-99 Hume 19/91.
Euen as the fire dois animat and poussis in the air A weightie & material ball

2. To cause to move (forward, or in some other specified direction) by action other than direct thrusting or pressing. Also fig. c1590 J. Stewart 39/323.
His Roncin sueire the first assault did tyn Trebusching doune quhill nether spur nor vand Mycht onie farder pouse him fordwart 1663 Mackenzie Religious Stoic (1685) 126.
The rose being pous'd up by the salt nitre which makes it vegetative —fig. 1633 Johnston Diary I 110.
Gods exhortations quhilk ar as goads to pousse forward

3. To incite, impel or drive to a certain course of action or state of mind); to urge or press, also, to induce (to do something); to egg on; also absol. Also with forward, on or to.Also with obj. and infin. clause complement.With human, also non-human and inanimate, subj, also in passive, and fig. with inanimate obj.Appar. only Sc. in this sense till c 1700.(1) c1590 J. Stewart 211 §45.
O sempill poet, … I am abaishit of thy feruent vill Quhilk hes thé pousit to this painfull part c1590 Fowler I 74/210.
Dido … put hir self away … It was but cair of honestie that poust hir to the same a1651 Calderwood I 590.
The Gwisians, intending a conquest of this realme, poussed her continuallie to some mischeefe 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 110.
That iust fury which the willanous act of his wife pouses him to(2) a1578 Pitsc. II 95/20 (I) (see Puff(e v. c). 1589 Gray Lett. & P. 173.
[He] earnestly poused him to prosecute that interprise c1590 J. Stewart 11/17.
Stout pucelle Pallas, pouss me to desyn His grawe attempts in monie dyuers land For Angelique Ib. 171 §2.
My pansiwe spreit … poussith me to tak my pen in hand 1598 James VI Basil. Doron II App. 308.
In the consideration of my auin mortality I hawe beene poussed … to leawe yowe theis memorials befor [etc.] 1640 Baillie Canterbury Self-convict. 48.
That which conscience would pouse any man … to avow a1651 Calderwood IV 614.
That he powssed the Queen of England to cutt off the queen's mother(3) c1610 Melville Mem. 29.
The paip … poussit be twa of his neveux, sent [etc.](4) 1633 Johnston Diary I 51.
Being poussed to by thir 2 motives … I reiterated my prayer a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 55.
It's not unusuall to the Lord, to pouse on by His spirit, when He mindeth to haue him to the ministry 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 100.
Assasinate … be desperate persons poussed forward be revenge —absol. Ib. 83.
If men, especially the Italian, who besydes his natural genius to venery is poussed by the heat of the country, had not vomen … to stanch them(5) 1685 Cromartie Corr. I 39.
I never omitted to pouse it to be sent evry way(6) fig. c1590 J. Stewart 19/152.
Heir than my lyns, no longer vold I draw, Quhilks heir ar poust to tell ane new effray Ib. 44/33.
Quhill pinching paine did pousse his speitche ane space Vith tein [etc.] … Him self both cursing and his cairfull cace 1652 Watson's Coll. III 102.
Her [woman's] practicks in the innerhouse, … Doth make the pandects for to pouse The cods for contribution

b. To stimulate, actuate, motivate (a temptation). a1658 Durham Subtile Self 86.
If we look to the great motive, that pousseth on the tentation, we will find it to be selfiness

4. a. tr., also intr. or absol. To press forward, prosecute, press with insistence (some action or operation); to follow up (a victory). Only with farder, forward, still.(1) absol. 1561 Cal. Sc. P. I 587.
[Seeing these two princesses are] thus far entred in amity [I pray you let us not] weary to pousse fordwart [till they have met](2) 1600-1610 Melvill 385.
The king, finding this vantage and occasioun, pousses fordwart the sam a1651 Calderwood VII 404.
This was refused, and the act of the Assemblie still poused 1670 Lauder Jrnl. 235.
That they would not pousse their victory farder [etc.] 1684 Lauder Observes 136.
The imperiall forces, … to pousse forward their victorie, beseidged the city of Buda

b. To pousse (one's, also a) fortoun, to engage actively in improving one's fortune, to push one's fortune.Appar. chiefly (till 1697, only) Sc. till 1863. 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 30 b.
Every one by degree doeth pouse his fortune 1638 Inchmahome Pr. 142.
Observe, therefor, the tymes weill, powsse yor fortoun, trye yor witts and frends

5. To strike with the knees or feet; ? to trample with the feet. = Poss v. 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 263.
And last … he … dang and dadded her with his falded neiffes upon the face, … poussed her with his feete and left her lying on the chamber floore as ane deid persoun