A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Venus, Wenus, n. [ME and e.m.E. Venus (c1290), L. Venus.]
1. Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Also possess.?1438 Alex. ii 2203.
Gif I lufe and lemmen has, I thank … Wenus, Cupido and Marcurius c1420 Wynt. i 1559.
Thai halde alsua this Venus wes Off luve lady and goddes, Off all fayrhede a1500 Henr. Orph. 204.
Than tuke he leve, and to Venus can fare c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 73.
In to my dremes fantasy … Thare saw I Nature and Venus, quene and quene, … Juno Appollo [etc.] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 906.
He … still did on the ladie think; … To fair Venus makand his mane, Sayand, Ladie, quhat may this mene? a1578 Pitsc. I 371/15.
O Wenus with … Cupido … To ȝour court ȝe nevir had sic two So leall lowaris … As James the fyft and Magdalen of Francepossess. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1448.
All thir … on Venus' seruice vaikis In deidis of armis for thair ladyis saikis c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 193.
Dame Hamelynes scho tuke in company … And broucht dame Beautee to the felde … With all the choise of Venus chevalry Thay come and bikkerit unabaisitly
2. transf. Sexual intercourse, lust. b. attrib. or possess. Venus chamber, etc., a place or circumstance where carnal love is pursued or fulfilled, the bedroom. Venus chapell clerkis, servandis, supporters or followers of the ethic of carnal love. Venus profession, a state of being a devotee of carnal love. Venus werkis, etc. sexual activity. Venus brand, fyre, passion.1513 Doug. iv Prol. 98.
Be nevir our set … With lust of wyne nor warkis veneryane … Childir to engendir oys Venus … drynk bot quhen thou art dry 1596 Dalr. I 290/13.
Quha walde nocht suffir to draw her to Venus with fair wordes 1596 Dalr. I 290/17.
His strenth was now … wakenit with Bachus and Venus, that with that foul seiknes … gonorrhæa … he was strukneb. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 2067.
This chalmer will nouther haue wraith na ire For this is dame Venus hous [F. li lieus est amourous] That to lufaris is delytious ?1438 Alex. ii 5070.
The madinis honorit him greatly. In Venus chalmer [F. la chambre Venus] iolely Thay maid thare-with lauchter and sang 1492 Myll Spect. 297/10.
This lytle buk … callit the spectakle of luf or delectatioun of wemen translatit … be ane clerk quhilk had bene in to Venus court mair than the space of xx ȝeris c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 431.
I blenk by my buke … To se quhat berne … is maist forcely to furnyse a bancat In Venus chalmer c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 90.
His Spainȝe cloik … Betakinnit ȝouth and curiositie, In Venus bowr [pr. Bowe] to eik baith game and glew(2) 1490 Irland Mir. I 136/26.
O haly ladeis and virginis, heire nocht the promys of Wenus seruandis c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 21.
The birdis sang … With curiouse note, as Venus chapell clerkis 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 188.
With Venus henwyffis quhat wys may I flyte, That strakis thir wenschis hedis thame to ples? c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 153 (see (3) below).(3) c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 152.
Se that ȝe thoill na preist in my processioun, Without he be of Uenus professioun; Quhairfoir, gar warne all Venus chapel clarks, Quhilk hes bene most exercit in hir warkis(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 127.
He is waistit and worne fra Venus werkis And may nought beit worth a bene in bed of my mystirs c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 399.
He that wantis valȝeandnes in Venus play, is ful vile haldin c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 105/7.
Nou propois thai, … Off Venus feest to fang ane fill 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 168.
Thir Venus warkis in ȝouthed ar foly, Bot into eild thai turn in fury rage c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2964.
Quhen scho had ordorit hir impyre, Off Uenus wark scho tuke desyre a1578 Pitsc. I 158/22.
Licherie and Wenus lyfe hes oft tymes a euill end(5) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 64/3, 7.
Now culit is dame Venus brand; Trew luvis fyre is ay kindilland … Quhill Venus fyre be deid and cauld Trew luvis fyre nevir birnis bauld c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 105/12.
Dame Venus fyre sa hard tham sted, Thai brak up durris and raeff up lockis To get ane pamphelet
3. The planet Venus.a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 11.
Fair Venus, the bewtie of the nicht, Vprais c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 64.
Mars, Uenus, and Mercurius, all thre Gaue me my natural inclinatiounis, Quhilk rang the day of my natiuitie c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 37.
The quhilks [sc. planets] ar in leill number thir seuin. Saturnus, Juppiter, Mars, and the Sone, Venus, Mercurie, and last is the Mone
