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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Confusioun, -ion(e, n. Also: -yown(e, -iown(e, -ioune, -fussioun, -futioun. [ME. confusioun(e, -ion (c 1290), OF. confusion, L. confūsio.]

1. Overthrow, downfall, ruin (of persons, cities, etc.); a disorganized condition. 1375 Barb. v. 656.
Thai had beyn worthy men … Had thai nocht beyn full of tresoune, Bot that maid thair confusioune c1420 Wynt. iii. 785.
This wes the fyrst confusioune That ewyre yhit come to Babyloune a1500 Henr. III. 98/55.
That prince … kest him in his awin dungeoun, … With hungir, cauld and confusioun a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 190.
For theif and rewar ȝe will be advocate, Quhilk is mere syn and schamfull confusioun a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 546.
Herod … Send him agane to eik his confusioun c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2532.
I dreid ȝour recompence Sal be nocht ellis bot clene confusioun 1562-3 Winȝet I. 7/10.
Quhat ellis is it bot … ane manifest confusion and vter exterminion of this realme

b. In the phrases to bring or put, to come, fall, flow or run, to (also in) confusioun. a1400 Leg. S. i. 314.
The prefet … Socht ithandly occasione To bring hym to confusione c1420 Wynt. ii. 58.
Scho wonyn hade the towne, And broucht it to confusyown Ib. 1462.
For thare full presumptioune Thai sulde fall in confusiowne 1456 Hay I. 170/12.
Thai wan thair inymyes, and put thame to confusioun and disconfiture Ib. 255/21.
The governance of wommen … cummys oft tymes to confusioun a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 488.
A man … In his wod rage rynnand … to fynale confusioun Ib. 776.
Ȝe & ȝour flok flowis baith to confusioun a1508 Kennedy Flyting 262.
The first that evir put Scotland to confusioun Wes that fals tratour c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2568.
Of pure transgressouris ȝe haue no pitie, Bot cryis to put thame to confusioun a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxx. 152.
Thoucht all this warld ryn in confusioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 149/25.
This lord Chrichtoun … dissaweit baith the tuddar twa and brocht the Douglassis to confussioun

2. A state of disorder or chaos. 1456 Hay I. 210/29.
For quhy, be way of nature … , thare is ay in pluralitee confusioun Ib. 279/11.
And syndry lordis … tuke all ane armes or takenis, it war bot a confusioun 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 82.
Considering it is saide … that multitude but reull maks confusion 1558-66 Knox II. 424.
For the avoyding of confusioun, thai thocht it mair expedient [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcvi. 16.
Quhat is the caus of all this grit confusioun, Bot the diuisioun of lordis maist potent?

b. A confused number or body. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 41/7.
Electing … ane confusioun of wickit preistis of quhatsumeuer tribe

3. Reduction to a non-plus or silence. c1450 Cr. Deyng 80.
Cryst as he was crucefyd one the cors, in consolacioune to gud men, and in confusioune and schame to ill men 1490 Irland Mir. I. 15/13.
In this land ar mony … that are nocht sekyre in the faithe of Ihesus, and for thar confusioune ore ellis conuersioune … I introduce the scripture

4. Effusion (of blood). 1592 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 39.
Donald Reoche … strak baithe him selfe and his wyif to the greit confusioune of the said Allesteres blud Ib. 41 b, 122 b.