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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Serpent, n. Also: serpon. [ME and e.m.E. serpent (a1300), sarpent (Wyclif), OF serpent (1080 in Larousse), L. serpent-, f. serpere to creep, crawl.]

1. A snake or similar (usu., venomous) reptile. Also, a mythological beast of snake-like appearance. Also attrib. and possess. a1400 Leg. S. ii 38.
That serpent [sc. a viper] … he in the fyre … Fra hym keste a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 50.
A serpent fel … That of his aynd infect the ayre a1400 Leg. S. xlv 255, etc. c1420 Wynt. i 735.
Thare serpentys [W. edderis] ar sa gret, but were At thai wyll suelly wpe a dere 1456 Hay (Glenn) III 100/16.
[In autumn] serpentis enteris in thair cauernis 1456 Hay (Glenn) III 106/23.
In sik wateris ar oft tymes engenderit serpentes and paddokis, snakis & euill bestis venymous 1456 Hay (Glenn) III 109/79.
And alssua is gude wyne … comperit to venym of serpentis and of edderis, of the quhilkis is made the triacle a1500 Henr. Orph. 105.
As scho ran all bairfut in ane bus, Scho trampit on a serpent wennomus c1515 Asl. MS I 162/3. c1515 Asl. MS I 169/28.
In that ile is serpentis that we call mermadynnis 1490 Irland Mir. III 37/29. 1513 Doug. ii iv 45.
Syne thir twa serpentis hastely glaid away 1513 Doug. vi iv 105.
The bysnyng best, the serpent of Lerna 1549 Compl. 20/26.
It is … inhabit be serpens ande vthir venemuse beystis 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 15/38.
Moyses rod being casten downe, was no doubt turned in a natural serpentattrib. 1513 Doug. vii vi 12.
Thys wikkyt goddes … Ane of hir slymy serpent haris dyd cast, … . Thys eddir [etc.]possess. c1500 Rowll Cursing 202 (B).
Sum [devils] ar lyk ane serpentis sluch

b. In fig. or allusive ref. to serpents' reputation for cleverness, cunning and malice. Also attrib. and possess. c1475 Wall. ix 1836.
Hyr malice hid … As a serpent watis hyr tym to byt 1492 Myll Spect. 275/3.
A philosophour comperith thaim vnto ane serpent hyd vnder flouris a1578 Pitsc. II 94/8.
The governour [etc.] … lyke fyrie serpentis … inflamet witht yre and malice a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 538 (W).
In vnderneath the flour The lurking serpent lyis 1600-1610 Melvill 20 (see Serpentine adj. b).attrib. a1568 Dunb. Bann. MS 262a/28.
Wemen … With thair sle serpent [STS subtill] wrinkis and fals taillpossess. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 75.
Dissaitfull tyrand with serpentis tung

c. An image or representation of a serpent. Also comb. as serpent t(o)ung, an ornament in the shape of a snake's tongue. a1400 Leg. S. i 237.
Serpens als of bras he made 1551 Hamilton Cat. 52. 1589-1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 56b.
I haue agret with Sanderis Car to cout out our peges nos and ane serpent wpone the hed of itcomb. 1291 Acts I 6.]
[Viginti due lingue serpentine posite in argento 1488 Treas. Acc. I 81.
A grete serpent toung set with gold, perle and precious stanis 1488 Treas. Acc. I 84. 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 359.
The gret serpent tong with all the stanes and graith thairof, with the coffir it wes in

2. a. The serpent which tempted Eve (Gen. iii. 1-5). b. The dragon of Rev. xii, a symbol of Satan. Also, after Rev. xii 9, the auld serpent. c. Passing into a general epithet for Satan, the Devil.a. 1490 Irland Mir. I 63/24.
The woman … was desauit in the speking of the serpent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 929.
Sche pullit doun the fruct belyue Throw counsall of the fals serpent c1554 Makeson Genesis fol. 2.
The fals serpent quhilk ewir dissait intendyt Ewa intistit a1568 R. Maitland Bann. MS 14a/172.
The serpentis fals inventing, The womanis sone consentingb. (1) a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 534.
The serpent is said to cast this floud out of his mouth … after the woman(2) c1515 Asl. MS II 246/33.
For thocht Leuiathan the auld serpent Dissauit had our paran prothoplast 1490 Irland Mir. I 78/37.
The auld serpent, be his falsheid and lesing, said [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I 120/5. 1562-3 Winȝet I 118 n.
The auld serpent, and his poysonit kenling Juliane the apostatec. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 12/10.
Dungin is the deidly dragon Lucifer, The crewall serpent with the mortall stang a1578 Pitsc. II 239/31.
The Devill, … that wicked and venimus serpent quho gois about to sie quhome he may catch c1590 J. Stewart 206 § 39.
False cursit serpent, cause of all our mis

3. fig. As a personification of evil, malice, etc. a1500 Henr. Orph. 441.
Quhen we flee … Fra vertu … The serpent stangis: that is dedely syn c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 205/23.
Quha can resist the serpent of dispyt 1581 Sat. P. xliv 97.
That serpent of ȝour deformation, in euerie toun and citie he arryuit

b. An evil or malicious person. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2028.
[Dishonest servants are] serpentis … Fra thair maisteris ay takand … beif, bacon, [etc.] 1567 Sat. P. iv 110.
O wickit wemen, … Serpentis of kynde, thocht cumlie seme ȝour statuire a1605 Montg. Flyt. 506 (T).
Quhair that serpent had sowkit, sair wes to sched it 1597 5th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 631/2.
As executor … to the maist venemous pestiferous serpent, Margartt Erskyne