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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.

Pois-, Poyso(u)n, n. Also: poyss- and -own, -oune, -one, -ane; poyseing; puisson. [ME and e.m.E. poysoun (Piers Plowman), -on, poiso(u)n, early ME puisun (c 1230) OF puison (12th c. in Godef.), poison, ‘drink, draught’, later ‘poisonous draught’ (14th c.), L. pōtiōn-, potion, poisonous draught, f. pōtāre to drink. Cf. Puso(u)n, also Potioun n.]

1. A poisoned potion; an administration of poison to another; a poisonous substance. a1400 Leg. S. ii 699.
That he deit … of a fellone poyssone Myngit and mad be tresone Ib. xxxiii 520.
The wiche thane … a fere fellare poysone made & gef George … & he … drank it of 1456 Hay I 245/13.
Or poysonis or othir maner of murderis in hyd maner Ib. II 109/8. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2676 (Ch.) (see Puso(u)n n.).
Poisoun c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 78.
Thow purpest for to vndo our lordis cheif In Paislay with ane poysone that wes fell c1500-c1512 Kennedy Ib. 405.
Quhare thow puttis poysoun to me I appelle [etc.] 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 195.
Quha … brayit the same poysoune, and putt itt in ane pece ledder and delyuerit itt to thé Ib. 196.
Poysane

b. transf. The action of preparing or administering poison; the fact of being poisoned. 1554–5 Treas. Acc. X 274.
To underly the law for poisoun 1613 Crim. Trials III 261.
Robert Erskyne wes this day execute for the practize of poisone 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 147.
Alexander Gordoun … escaped verie narrowlie then from poysone

2. Poisonous matter, poison.Also as the second element of a compound in rattoun-poisoun (Rat(t)o(u)n n. b).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 505.
Thane with wyne mengȝeit he poyson c1420 Wynt. viii 3347.
Wyth wenenows fell poysown 1450 Acts II 39/2.
Gif ony strangeris … cum in this realme … & inbring … poyson throu the quhilk ony Cristin man or woman may tak bodily harme 1456 Hay I 12/13.
The sparow … lyfis on sedis that ar poysoun till othir foulis Ib. II 142/27. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2643.
By drinking of poisone a1500 Henr. Orph. 107 (Asl.).
As natur is of all mortall poisoun 1513 Doug. ii iv 37. 1533 Boece 287 b.
Fynding his body … horribly flekkit with spottis of the poysoun 1535 Stewart 51871. 1549 Compl. 81/6.
Ane drynk of poyson a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 139/28 (see Poisoun v. 1 p.t., p.p. (c)).
Poysone 1562-3 Winȝet II 12/35.
As it war in an apothecaris buyth ful of al kynd of droigis, bayth of delicat spycerie and of rady poysoun 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 534.
That it was poysoun … [the] chyrurgian … playnelie jugeit 1574 Reg. Privy S. VI 474/1. a1578 Pitsc. II 127/6.
Lord James … was hangit be the heillis be the metsouneris to caus the poysone to drop out 1579 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 24.
Throw venemus and extreme poysoun 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 193.
To mak ane pig-full of ranker poysoune a1605 Montg. Son. xxvii 4.
I am … not a snaik with poyson him to byte a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 117.
Ane mans meat is another mans poyson 1635 Duncan Glasg. Physic. & Surg. 220.
Ratine poyseing 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 82.
And poysone laid for destroying myce and ratons 1679 T. Kirke A Modern Account of Scotland (1679) 11.
A dirk or skean … the back of it filed into divers notches, wherein they put poyson(b) 1494 Loutfut MS. 37 b.
Bourevische … has vertu aganis puisson(2) 1456 Hay I 46/34.
And the story sais he deid be poysoun Ib. 259/20. 1568 Haddington Corr. 271.
Be lang impresonyng, euill treatment or poysoun a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 230.
He sould kill the said Bothuell be poyson 1613 Crim. Trials II 262.(3) comb. 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 197.
For causing of Loskie Loncart mak ane poysone drink

3. fig. Any doctrine, influence or principle that is harmful to a person or to a community; baneful influence.Also comb. 1456 Hay I 18/4.
A fals poysoun of errour and herisye a1500 Henr. Fab. 1900.
Fals apostita, … Sawand poysoun and monye wickit thocht In mannis saull c1475 Wall. x 97.
Poyson sen syn at the Fawkyrk is cald, Throu treson and corruption off ald a1500 Quare Jel. 250.
Now all hath fele of thilke poysoun 1533 Bell. Livy II 142/24 (see Invennom v.). 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III xlix.
It hes plesit the gudnes of God be the vterance of thair awin mouthis … to discovir the poyson 1568 Haddington Corr. 270.
Traitouris, quhais lwnatick branes ar continewalie occupeit with this thair poysoun 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 192.
The clocked poysone that so long hes lyine in thy feanyeat breast a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xliii 28. 1596 Dalr. I 238/16.
Thay al suspected him of hæresie, of quhilke venum and bittir poyson heir was he noted c1650 Spalding I 214.
Bot wnder this fair generall lurked muche poysouncomb. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 811 (T).
Baill brewer, poysone spewer