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.
Post,, Poist(e, n.1 Also: poast. [ME and e.m.E. post(e, late ME poost, e.m.E. poast, also ME (once) pos (1340), OE post post, pillar, door-post, L. postis post, door-post, (in med. L., also a rod, pole, beam); also OF post (12th c. in Godef.; mod. F. pôt) post, pillar, beam, and MLG, MDu. post door-post, also f. the Latin.]Knight of the post, see Knicht n.2 d.
1. An upright of timber, or other solid material, esp. one used in building as a support for a super-structure; a post, a pillar; also a tent-post.(To build) with post and pan (Pan n.2), having vertical and horizontal timbers as a framework for the walls. (Cf. e.m.E. (of) postis and pannes (1517), mod. north. Eng. post-and-pan (1788–).)
b. fig. A support, prop, ‘pillar’.Also c. in the proverb, to strike a hag (= notch) into the post, i.e. as a record.a. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 10934.
Thair was the kingis awin tent … The postis war of euory fyne c1420 Wynt. iii 475.
About twa pyllarys … He kest hys armys … and swa The post he tyt tyll hym sa fast Quhyll downe the hous come at the last 1513 Doug. ii viii 89.
The woful moderis ran … throw out the chawmeris wyde Brasand the postis in armys and durris cald Ib. v vii 55.
Quhar beyn the spulȝe triumphal mony one Within thine hows hyngis on euery post? Ib. ix vii 85.
Goddes … , at thy standart, knoppit post of tre … Gif evir I … fixit ony thyng [etc.] Ib. iii v 5.
Post [Sm. poist, Ruddim. poiste] Id. Concl. 14.
Thus vp my pen and instrumentis full ȝor On Virgillis post I fix 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Columen, the chiefe post or lairg c 1639 Scots Lore I 163.
For … sparrs & posts of aid to the dowcat 1666 J.M. Beale Fife Schools 216.
[Those who had borrowed] the great poasts [belonging to the new schoolhouse were ordered to provide them against Martinmas next](2) 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I 206.
Sic as biggis with poist and pan and layes with blak morterb. a1538 Abell 122 b.
He wes ane stark post … aganis the infidelis Ib. 123 b.
Ane herittik that before wes a post of our ordur & syne passit to hericec. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4435 (see Hag n.).
2. A vertical mass of rock.Cf. 18th c. Eng. post, in this sense (1712).1668 Glasgow Chart. II 135.
To tirr six elnes of ground inward on the topp of the said craig … and to wonne stones dounward to the bottom of the poiste
