A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stang, Sting, n. Also: stong. [ME and e.m.E. stang (Cursor M.), sting (Trevisa), stong (Wyclif), OE sting; Stang v.]
1. The fang of a poisonous serpent or dragon; the sting of a scorpion or bee. Also in transf. uses. b. The penis. c. fig. A goad, an incitement. d. pl. Cupid's arrows.c1420 Wynt. i 658.
Eddrys … Off wenyme and stangys sare 1456 Hay I 29/15.
Bestis callit lungoutis … of the kynde of scorpiouns with stangis 1456 Hay I 29/23.
A scorpioun … has a stang as a serpent, that scho stangis to dede at the last 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 351.
Dragouns, lessertis, askis, edders swatterit … With mony a stang and spoutis vennemous c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxviii 10.
Dungin is the deidly dragon Lucifer, The crewall serpent with the mortall stang 1513 Doug. ii iv 20.
Onto the grund thai glaid … eyn Stuffit ful of vennom, fyre, and fellon teyn, Wyth tongis quhislyng in thar mowthis rede Thai lyk the twynkland stangis in thar hed 1513 Doug. ii iv 25.
First athir serpent lappit lyke a ryng, And with thar cruell byt and stangis fell, Of tendir membris tuke mony sary morcell 1513 Doug. xii x 93.
[Bees] Scharpand thar stangis for ire 1567 G. Ball. 108.
Thow sall strampe on the edderis stang a1568 Bann. MS 29b/39.
That fra the dragon reft the stang 1692 Pitcairne Assembly (1722) 38.
We're but a boick of drone bees without stangsb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxv 48.
Quhone that our mowthis dois meit at ane, My stang dois storkyn with ȝour towdiec. 1513 Doug. xi ix 18.
In sum the greif and ire dyd fast habund Rasyt with brethfull stangis [L. stimulis] full onsondd. 1611-57 Mure Sonn. i 4.
[Margaret] Quhoise heavinly hands hold proud Cupidois stingis
2. The wound inflicted by a serpent's fang. Also transf. the wound inflicted by a weapon. Also fig.1533 Boece 286.
Thai knewe the hert horne remede contrare the eddir stangtransf. a1500 Sir Eger 1881.
The lady was leech, And … laid him till, Both for the stang, and for the stound 1567 G. Ball. 99.
Lyke deidly dartis thow geuis stang & stoundfig. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1140.
It war to lang to mak narratioun Off sychis sore, with mony stang and stound
3. fig. A means of inflicting pain or harm; the pain or harm so inflicted. b. A means of stimulating the conscience.(a) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 619 (Asl.).
God sufferis … schrewis with thair stangis serpentyne Apon his pepill to mak sair pvnissing 1513 Doug. xiii vi 89.
Turnus … Inflambit with the stang of wikkytnes, And infekkit with … haitrent 1570 Sat. P. xxii 93.
Quhen justice falset fangis, With helteris hie to ty on tre Thy poysonit edder stangis 1587-99 Hume 35/52.
In the ende when deathe would thee devore, Hir mortall stang sall nocht take halde on thee(b) 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 433.
Baith deith and hell hes lost thair cruell stingb. 1535 Stewart 26405.
In thair conscience wes ane stang and brode, For to tak pairt with ennimeis of God 1535 Stewart 43394.
The stang of conscience broddit him so soir, That he forthocht all that he did befoir
c. The intoxicating effect of wine.a1561 Norvell Meroure 49a.
Thogh wyne … Appear right deir with taist mellufluent … His stong is worse, nor eddir or serpent
