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: 1375, 1475-1586
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Pusoun, n. Also: puss-, poss-; pwsoune, pusone, pusioun. [Late north. ME puson (Cath. Angl.): cf. Poiso(u)n, and mod. Sc. dial. pushion, pooshion, pishion, puzyon etc.] Poison. = Poiso(u)n n.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2676 (Bann.).
The fadir thocht to mak a strang pvsoun [Ch. poisoun], And with his mowth in to my wattir spew(2) 1375 Barb. xx 546 (E).
In-till his neyst potioun He suld giff him dedly pusoun [C. poysoune] a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 43 (Bann.).
Moir perrellus than ony fell pusoun c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv 30.
Quhill all the air infeck of thair pvsoun 1509 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) II 145.
Gif ony persone bringis hame pusioun a1538 Abell 99b.
Nocht with standing at the pusone kithit apone him(3) 1375 Barb. i 533.
Alexander the conqueroure … Wes syne destroyit throw pwsoune … throw gret tresoun 1542 Acts II 420/1.
The distructioun of [the late king] … be pvsoun(4) 1585–6 Waus Corr. 346.
Rattoun possoun(5) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii 187.
Pusoun is ryff, amang thir othir thingis a1568 Scott xv 17.
My breist is … purgit of pussoun
