A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Maliso(u)n, Maleso(u)n, n. Also: maly-, malli-, malle-, mavli-, mawli-. [ME. (Cursor M.) and north. e.m.E. maliso(u)n, OF. maleis(s)on (L. maledictio Maledictioun n.).] A curse; an imprecation; also, the condition of being under a curse.(To give, leave, or pray, one's) malisoun to another or const. dative pron., = to lay or invoke it upon him.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 277.
Sa man, that ves in malysone, Mycht thar chese lestand benysone a1500 Henr. Fab. 2068 (Harl.).
It is sum wyfis malisoun … For pultrie pyking that lichtit hes on ȝow 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 269.
All the malysonis and uaryesonis that ever gatt uardly creature … mot lycht apoun thame 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 166.
Mony black malysoun 1552 Buccleuch Mun. II. 210. 1581 Burne in Cath. Tr. 165/15.
Quha had fallin in ane paralysie … be reassone of thair motheris malisone 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 283, 5.
The sillie wedew … left hir malisone … To Lowrie. … Whidder hir malisone tuike effect Or [etc.] 1643 Baillie II. 106.
If here yow make not a good choise, yow shall have my malison 1695 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 22 Sept.
He should have her malison as long as she lived(b) c1500 Rowll Cursing 10 (M).
Goddis malesoun mot thay haue 1535 Stewart 53064.
Sanct Serffis malesoune 1551 Hamilton Cat. 31, 32, 154. 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 153. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1538. 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 192.
Ȝe … seruis nocht ells bot Goddis malesoun 1571 Ib. xxviii. 104.
Sa Paslay may repent That I thé maid of malesounis of foik 1605 Crim. Trials II. 479. c1650 Spalding II. 242.
A gryte pairt perishit, whiche wes the countrie people's malesoun, and God hard the samen(c) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 787 (Asl.).
Pas warijt wretchis with my braide mavlison [Arund. mallisoun] To … hell(2) c1420 Wynt. i. 459 (W).
He gaif him thare his malesoune c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 83 (B).
To maister Johine Clerk syne Do et lego intime Godis braid malesone & myne 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2846.
Do ȝe nocht sa, heir for conclusioun I gif ȝow all my braid black malesoun Ib. 3657, 4138. 1558-66 Knox I. 38.
Goddis maleson and ruyne I geve to thame that [etc.] a1570-86 Maitl. F. xlvii. 118. 1582 Edinb. Test. XI. 21 b.
Gif he dois in the contrar & troubillis his mother … I leue him na thing bot my malesoun 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 471. a1586 Lindsay MS. 45. 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 56.
Andro … confessit that he prayit mallesonis to the said Robert 1604 Ib. 123. 1615 Lanark B. Rec. 125. 1661 Soc. Ant. XXII. 246.
When shoe gave her malisone to any persone or creature it usually lighted a 1706 Mare of Colinton i. 62.
I leave them my black malison
b. transf. God's curse manifested as a wicked or afflicted child.a1500 Seven S. 2230.
Ȝour son Godis mawlisoun Thai will mak king 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3542.
Fy motheris malesoun
