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.
Pestilent, -ant, a. Also: -elent. [Late ME. and e.m.E. pestilente (1432–50), L. pestilens, -entis f. pestis Pest n. 1. or pestilis of the nature of plague. Cf. also L. pestilentus.] Pestilent, in the usual senses.
1. Harmful to health; noxious; bringing or causing pestilence or death.(1) 1533 Boece xi. xii. 431.
The fische … corrupting apon the sand be pestilent fleure infekkit the are 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Maneleta.
Ane kinde of evill & pestilent herbe quhilk growes amangst the cornes(2) a1578 Pitsc. I. 251/28.
Pestelent serpitantis
2. fig. Morally, or socially, harmful; pernicious.(1) a1538 Abell 70 a.
This wis of reif pestilant mot be tane out of this kinrik 1558 Knox IV. 526.
And if it be founde replenished with pestilent humours (I mean with the fantasies of men) [etc.] 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 44.
In quhais company hir g[race] wald neuir have belevit that sic ane pestilent venum could haue bene hyd(2) 1581 Burne Disput. 141 b.
Al pestilent hæreseis befoir condemnit be the kirk a1585 Polwart Flyt. 615 (T).
To pestilent purpoisis planelie he preist 1585 Acts III. 380/1.
The pestilent seiknes spreading(3) 1561 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 9.
The pestilent generatioun of that Romane antichrist 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 171/26.
Sua lang as we haif sic pestilent precheouris to be oure pastouris [etc.]
