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.
Quotation dates: 1461-1494
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Pointure, n. Also: -eur, -our, -yr, -eir, -ar. [ME (once) pointure (Gower), F. pointure pricking, L. punctūra.] a. Pointyr of a preyn, pin-prick, as a type of very small extent or degree. = Pointin(g vbl. n.1 1. b. A prickle, spine or spike. c. A (pointed) weapon. d. fig. — 1461 Liber Pluscardensis I 387.
Leyffand but syn, … Dyd neuir of plycth the pointyr of a preyn 1494 Loutfut MS. 3 a.
& how he is armyt … and thairwith how mony pointouris he enteris in listes 1494 Ib. 3 b.
And thai that beris thair pointeiris within the listes suld beir thaim laich on sid 1494 Ib. 33 a.
Siraigne … has eeris lik nedillis … for he that hauntit him nocht be subtilite suld fynd him strikin with the pointeurs [Lindsay MS. pointaris] of his eeris 1494 Ib. 39 a.
Hardy off hert and fulfillit of courage quhilkis ar pointures till his enemys and mantemand suetnes till his frendis 1494 Ib. 41 b.
Pointouris [Lindsay MS. pointures] of spurris
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"Pointure n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pointure>
