A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1596
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Benysoun, n. Also: benisowne, benssoun, -sowne, -son(e, benesoun, -sson; bennisoun, -ysoun, -isone, -esoun, -esone. [ME. benison, benysone, benisoun, benyssoun, etc., benesoun, beneysun (a 1300), OF. beneiçun, beneisson, etc., L. benedictio.] A blessing. Also braid benisoun.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 691.
Sa the benysone he wane Of Ihesu Criste to mony man a1400 Ib. xxvii. 1381.
We will ga now the bischope till, & ask of new his benysone c1420 Wynt. ii. 214.
Jacob … throwcht hys modyre suggestyowne … wan his fadyr benysowne 1456 Hay I. 294/4.
Othir sais that the eldest brother gafe ay till his othir brethir his benesoun on festuale dais c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 547.
Quhethir will yhe the byschoppys taill wpber, Or pass befor, and tak his benysone? c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvi. 15.
Lat anis the cop ga round about, And wyn the covanis banesoun 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 153.
Scho passing throw the toun, Suld haue resauit mony benisoun 1580 Edinburgh Testaments VIII. 64.
I leue to James Ross my sone … ane merkland … togidder with my bennesoun 1596 Dalr. II. 440/22.
To thame … scho … prayes her blissing, and with al her hart her euirlasting bennisone as we cal it(2) c1450-2 Howlat 98.
The Pape … Gaif him his braid benesoun a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 796.
Cum ȝe, my barnis, with my braide benesoun 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1124.
Pas, all togidder, with my braid bennisoun
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"Benysoun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/benysoun>
