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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.

Plunge, v. Also: plundge; plonge; plounge. P.p. plungit, etc.; and plungde. [ME. and e.m.E. plungen (c 1380), plowngen (Chaucer), plongen (Lydgate), plundge (1617), also plungy (c 1380), OF. plunjer (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), plung(i)er, plong(i)er, (mod. F. plonger), late L. *plumbicāre to heave the lead, f. plumbum Plum(b n.] To plunge, in various senses.

1. tr. To immerse or submerge (a person) in a liquid or a penetrable substance; to cast or put into (a grave). Also const. up, down.Lit. and in fig. context.(To be) plungit in, (freq.) (to be) immersed in.(1) a1450 Fifteen Ois 208.
That plungit thé … In watter of thi passioun For our elderis redemptioun 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 182.
To rekkyn … Quhat mysforton thame plungis in ȝon deip — Ib. vii. 12.
As cayrful corps plungit in grave gart ly(2) 1375 Barb. xii. 568.
That thai War tynt emang so gret menȝe As thai war plungit in the se c1475 Wall. vi. 719.
A thousand in the myre Off hors with men was plungyt in the deipe 1611-57 Mure Fancies Farewell ii. 9.
Plungde 1622-6 Bisset II. 261/13.
He that strekis any person … salbe plundged or douked our the heid thrie sindrie tymes(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 831 (Bann.).
O fuliche man ploungit in warldlynes(3) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2939 (Ch.).
Now hie, now law, quhylis plungit vp, quhylis doun

b. fig. To thrust or force (a person or animal) into (in) an (undesirable) condition. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2893 (Ch.).
The sillie mous plungit in to greit pane Gan fecht als lang als breith wes in hir breist a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1236 (Harl.).
In hell … Plungeit in pane passing all mesour 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 130.
May we se … Thys cite haly plungit in distres Arundel MS. 269/140.
My spreit hail plungit in affray(b) a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxi. 2.
Plonged 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 161.
Therby to plonge them in atheisme

c. fig. Without compl.: To put to straits; to embarrass. 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 170.
This relatione was confirmed by two or three factors there which extreamlie plunged the noblemen

2. Only Sc. To plunge into or through; to penetrate by plunging or digging. c1475 Wall. vii. 1211.
vij thousand large at anys flottryt in Forth Plungyt the depe and drownd with out mercye a1649 Drummond I. 6 vi. .
Vaunt not, rich pearl, red coral, which do stir A fond desire in fools to plunge your ground

3. intr. To hurl oneself into (in, amang a mass of people, or in water); to dive, fall or sink; to plunge.(1) 1375 Barb. ii. 355.
[They] plungyt in the stalwart stour And rowtis ruyd about thaim dang ?1438 Alex. ii. 9291.
He … plungit richt amang his faes Ib. i. 953. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 376.
Termys twa Quhilkis ar als ryfe … As evir fowlis plungit in laik or puyll(2) 1494 Loutfut MS. 33 a.
And furthwith fallis agane & plungis in the wattir

b. Of a horse: To throw oneself violently forward. — 15.. Clar. i. 735.
The bairdit steidis plunging on the greine