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.
Quotation dates: 1536-1698
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Vergus, Verge(o)us, n. Also: verguse, wergus(e, wergeus, vergious, vergice, -geis, verjus(se, verju(i)ce, verjius, verdjuyce, wargus, vargouse. [ME and e.m.E. verious (1302-3), vergeous (1349-50), vergws (1392), vergis (1412-13), veriuys (15th c.), wargis (1527), OF ver(t)jus, vergus.] The acid juice of unripe fruit, esp. grapes. Also proverb., fig. and attrib.(a) 1536 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 156.
For ane ponchione of vergus, ij crounis son vij s. vj d. 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 160.
For mending of vergus, iiij s. 1586 Edinburgh Testaments XV 230.
Four pund wecht of wergus at xv s. the pund 1613 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II 428.
The consergerie is frie of all excyses of wyne … vinegar, vergus, salt, and oyle 1617 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 78.
James Warkman painters compt item for xi pyntis oyll … for half 1 pund of vergus 1621 Edinburgh Testaments LI 76.
Werguse … verguse 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 76.
The most part of the French sauces they make with vergus(b) 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII 50.
Oil dolife and vergeous 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII 60.
Vergious fra Rowane 1550–2 Old Dundee II 313.
Twa tun and ane half wergeus [pr. wergens] 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 26.
With daylie use of vinagir or vergeus with all sortis of meittis(c) 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V 363.
Ane chopin vergeis 1664 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 520.
For buttur vergice capers sugar(d) 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 332.
Veriuce the gallone xxiiiis. 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 152/49.
The veriusse bitter greene, Sweete winne becummes 1698 Foulis Acc. Bk. 224.
Verjius(e) 1596 Edinburgh Testaments XXIX 282.
Wargus 1644 Edinburgh Testaments LXI 39.
Vargouseproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1531.
Verdjuyce & oatmeal good for a parrotfig. 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 389.
[I send you a copy of a letter received yesterday from my brothers, wherein I find neither] sawce nor veriusattrib. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i xxv.
The great red grapes, the muscadine, the verjuice grape
