A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Post, Poist, adv. [e.m.E. (to ryde etc.) post(e (1549), poast, ? orig. abbrev. f. the phrases in Post n.2 3 and 4.] = Post n.2 4 a and b. Also (to ride) journey and post, Journe(e n. 3 b.
b. comb. in postrinner, one who travels at speed or post-haste.(1) a1578 Pitsc. II 37/30.
The Laird of Ballcleuch … quho raid post and tyrit his horse for he had ridin all night 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 567.
That na persone … imped … all sik as sall ryd poist, aither in cairrying of pacquet or utherwayes 1603 Haddington Corr. 212.
Directit his sone poist to Ingland … with letteris 1612 Thanes of Cawdor 225.
The chancellar is going post to court 1631 Justiciary Cases I 188.
The Marques of Hammiltoun haifing cum poist frome Scotland in thrie dayes c1650 Spalding I 170.
He … sendis post efter the Laird of Cluny to stay his journey 1695 Annandale Corr. 110.
M. goes doun post on Munday. He can wheedle noe body here(2) fig. 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xiv 4.
Quhill he liued, to Pluto [he] raid post 1746 J. Row Sermon 4.
We were like blind Balaam, … riding post to Rome 1653 Binning Wks. 377.
Men begin at leisure but they run post before all be done 1685 Hay Fleming Six Saints I 132.
Ye are fighting for hell, and running post to it 1698 S. Ronaldshay 72.
Some of the best heritors were running post to the devillb. 1596 Dalr. II 403/22.
Thir postrinneris [L. præfractarii] beginis to contemne the command [supra, 402/28, to S. Androis with speid on speidie horse tha spur]
