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: 1649-1698
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Pungent, adj. Also: pungion. [e.m.E. pungent (1597), causing pain, piercing, in senses a and b below (a 1661), irritant (1668), L. pungent-, pres. p. of pungere pierce, prick, Punge v.] a. Of (a point in) an argument: Strongly affecting the mind; cogent, convincing, telling. b. Of a sermon: Trenchant; severe. —a. a1650 Row 194.
Yit, … what throw unwillingnes to heare so pungent arguments, they were not insisted upon 1668-9 Fraser Lawfulness Separ. 60.
This objection is pungent, and I will answer it somewhat largely 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 72.
Bot upon weightie grave and pungion considderationes 1698 Donaldson Postscript Husbandry 38.
If it be true, then I confess its a very pungent objectionb. 1686 Dunblane Synod 218.
And for this end they would of purpose make use of godlie and pungent sermons, fervent prayers [etc.]
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"Pungent adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pungent>
