A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Phis-, Fisnomy, -ie, n. Also: phys-, fys- and -nomie, -nomye, -nomé, -namy; physinomie; phisnom; (phisonony). [ME. and e.m.E. phisnomye (1390), phisonomie (Gower), fisnamy(e, -nomy(e, etc. (15th c.), also phisognomy (1591), physiognomie (1569), OF. fiz-, phis-, phizonomie, -anomie (13th c.), med. L. phisonomia, physionomia, *physiognōmia, Gk. φυσιογνωμονία.] Physiognomy, in the usual senses.
1. The art of telling a. destiny or future fortune, or b. character or disposition, from the features of the face or the form of the body.(a) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 412.
Than techit he him … Off weird of fortune be physinomie(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2824 (Bann.).
Gife I can any skeill of fysnomy [Ch. phisnomie, H. phisnomy] Thow hes sum pairte of frawd 1574 Acts III. 87/2.
Egiptianis … that fenȝeis thame to haue knawlege in physnomie palmestre or vtheris abused sciencis quhairby thay perswade the people that thay can tell thair weardis deathis and fortunes
c. In The Buke of Phisnomy, in either or both of senses a and b above.lit. and fig. — c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 10106.
And cheis the men with all gud proparteis As in the buke of phisnomy thow seis c1515 Asl. MS. I. xiv.
Item the regiment of kingis with the buke of phisnomy 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7259.
Gif euer ȝe red the buik of phisnomy [etc.]
2. The face itself, the expression, or the whole physical form as a guide to a. character, or b. destiny, or c. both of these at once.a. (a) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 101.
Men knawis thaim [wise men] be thar phisnomy Quhar nocht apperis of felony a1500 Henr. Fab. 2830 (Bann.).
A frawart will a thrawin phisnomy Ib. 975 (Ch.).
Phisnomie a1500 Prestis of Peblis 557.
Phisnomie a1585 Polwart Flyt. 638 (T).
Phisnome [Harl. fisnome] 1603 Philotus xli.
Ȝe haue ane douchter … Quhais phisnomie prefigures skill With wit and honestie(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 81 (M).
Thy frawart fisnomie [B. phisnomy] Dois manifest thy malice till all menb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 894 (Ch.).
I ken be ȝour physnomie [Bann. phisnomye] Ȝe sall conqueisc. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 472.
Thane lerd he him to knaw a phisnomy And quhow he suld be visage or stature And be the pairtis of manis portrature Tak perfyte vnderstanding and knawleg Off thair conditioun nature and curage And als the fortune that lay thame beforn
3. The face, countenance or expression.Freq. with derogatory connotations, as in passages of vituperation.(a) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 217.
He was bot littill of stature of bodie And rycht weill hewit in his phisnomie Ib. 15126.
Phis [n]omye a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 518 (M).
Apon thy fisnome [B. phisnomy, Ch. & M. phisnom] fy a1605 Montg. Flyt. 510 (T).
Sum fartand sum flyrand thair phisnomeis [Harl. fisnomie] thi flyp c1590 J. Stewart 68/116.
Vith luik obscuir and phisnomie detort c1680 Bk. Pasquils 183.
In hell Quevedo saw such fisnamies In Gallowlie you may lyke visions meet(b) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 7408.
Ane payntoure … slichty To paynt his fessoun and his phisonony
