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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Peris, Perisch(e, v. Also: perr- and -ise, -ice, -iss(e, -isz, -ys(e, -yis; -es, -eis(e, -us; -is(c)h(e, -ysch(e, -ych; -es(c)h(e, -eche, -eis(c)h(e; peiris; and Parisch(e. P.t. and p.p. perist, -eist, etc.; peris(s)it, -ischit, etc. [ME. and e.m.E. perisse (c 1250), is, -ijs (Cursor M.); perichen (a 1370), -ische (Wyclif); peresch (1432–50); OF. periss-, extended stem of perir to perish; L. perīre to pass away, come to nothing, be lost or destroyed, lose one's life, etc.] To perish.

1. intr. Of a person: To come to an untimely end, to incur death, to be cut off, to die. Also of an animal, of a body of persons and of other animates.Chiefly by non-human agency or natural calamity, as shipwreck, drowning, starvation, cold, fire, but also by suicide, execution or an assault to which resistance is not offered.(1) (a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 286.
[The townspeople, seeing the dragon, said:] wais ws all, For now perise mone we all Ib. 248; Ib. xxxviii. 622. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 430.
Scho [Medea] wald rase wedderis one thame thare … That all suld peryse hastely … And of ded wndyrly the pyne c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 349.
To se the rycht gud wysman perys with his rycht gud vysnes and teranis in heill and velth lef lang 1513 Doug. ii. x. 162.
To salue his wery banys And not be wilful to perys [Sm. perische, Ruddim. perris] all atanys 1531 Bell. Boece II. 131. Id. Livy II. 85/28.
Dredand … that the … lauboraris of thare landis suld peris be hunger 1538 Crim. Trials I. i. 207.
Peryse 1549 Compl. 24/9.
The Lord sal sende pestilens on thé … quhil He hef gart thé perise 1551 Reg. Privy C. I. 115.
Peris 1551 Hamilton Cat. 290.
The blud of him that perissis throw thi negligens 1561 Crim. Trials I. i. 415.
The said James … aucht not to vnderly the law for the lybellit pretendit cryme and aucht not to perise suppois he wald peris quia non auditur perire volens 1602 Colville Paraenese 99.(b) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 167.
The residew of thair navy seyng thair marrowis peryis drew abak(c) 1514 Rec. Earld. Orkney 88.
That he was fameist and peresaund of hungir 1551 Hamilton Cat. 87.
He is worthi to pereis and to be slaine be the ordour of justice Ib.
He that takis the sweirde sal pereis [L. peribit] with the sweirde 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II. 183.
Thay ar abill to pereis for lak of sustentatioun(d) 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 35.
Gyf that I perych it is ȝit sum comfort That I of mennys handis deing at schort 1535 Stewart 4159.
Sic fersie flaggis fra the hevin did fall Tha war in poynt that tyme to perische all 1551 Hamilton Cat. 111. 1567 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 94.
The lamit … members of Chryst perishing for hunger and cold c1650 Spalding I. 53.
Throw want of air he wes lyk to perish(e) 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 123.
The pepill of the contrie themselff ar abill to pereische throw fameine(f) a1540 Freiris Berw. 96 (B).
To caus ws perreis but help ȝe haif grit syn 1549 Compl. 73/15.
Thai that vil nocht expose there bodeis ande gudis to perrel … bot rather vil thole them selfis, ther public veil & ther natiue cuntre to perreis al to gyddir 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 361.
Sche is presentlie in sic necessitie … that … sche had bene able to perreishe(b) c1420 Wynt. v. 1710.
The wykkyt quene … Off fyrflaucht … Peryst Ib. vi. 653. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 106.
Dowald … perist in Loch Tay quhare he hapnit to be at ane fisching Ib. I. 28. 1533 Boece xi. i. 401.
Quhare schipbrokin in his viage he perist(b) 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 50.
For luf Narsysus perysyt [E. pereschit] at the well 1532–3 Treas. Acc. VI. 89.
For the Britonaris saulis quhilkis periseat at the port of Air 1578 Anal. Scot. I. 280.
[They] passit to the se syd to haife wyshin thayme and perissit bath(c) a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 46.
John Robertson … peressitt at the Sayndness in the watter sawand Alexander Myll(d) 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 105.
Nor ȝit by natural ded peryschit sche Bot fey … had hir self spilt 1567 G. Ball. 105. 1633 Orkney Bp. Ct. in Dalyell Darker Superst. 179.
Ane boit with fyve men quhairof four perischit and ane was saiff 1669 Gunn Lyne & Megget 56.
A northland woman who perished in the water(e) c1590 Fowler II. 135/17.
Being lightlyed of all men [they] perreshed als lightlye(2) 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 25.
The cutting of ane meir … upoun the back quhairbe scho is lyk to pereische(3) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 11.
Becaus thay knew al pepil but successioun abill to perische 1555 Corr. M. Lorraine 380.
Throw the quhilk effectione your grace hes knawyng the cowmon weill perreche dywiris tymes(4) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1532.
Baith auld and ȝoung [fruit trees] perischt and come to nocht 1562-3 Winȝet II. 58/29.
Force it is that other the hail body decay and perise or [etc.]

b. In weakened or fig. sense: To undergo loss or ruin, to be destroyed, to be brought low. 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 386.
Wourthy men perys [: cuvatis, rys, justis] 1513 Doug. iv. ix. 51.
And eik that maist wrachit bed coniugall Quharin I perychit and wes schent allace 1531 Bell. Boece II. 115.
That thair army suld nocht peris for falt of ane heid 1567 G. Ball. 96.
Thow sall se The wickit man perische befoir thyne e. Thow sall behald him … Be brocht to nocht a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. clxxvii. 94.
Put nocht thy selff in perrell for to pereis [: bereis] 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 96.
Perysche a1578 Pitsc. I. 31/10.
He sould ather himsellff … haif out of this presentt perrell or ellis be hereit and perrische all for euer c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxv. 11.
Mistrust & dreid hes baneist esperance That I am forceit to perische 1625 Garden Kings 17.
Thir broills the … countrie herries And in thame too the prince dispatch'd dois perreis

c. To incur spiritual death or ruin, to suffer damnation. 1533 Gau 34/7.
The body and saul … sal newer peris bot lewe ewer inmortal Ib. 58/4.
Perisz Ib. 64/13.
The sone of man come to saiff the thing quhilk perist Arundel MS. 247/257.
That I peris nocht in the terrabill iugement 1562-3 Winȝet I. 82/5.
That the maill barne nocht circumcidit the auchtin day suld peris fra his peple Ib. 82/28.
Gif ȝe lat the barne peris [etc.] Ib. 104/21.
Except ȝe do repentance ȝe sall all peris Ib. II. 53/10.
Pereis 1567 G. Ball. 91, 103. 1580 Hay Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 51/2.
Perishe 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 121 b.
Sa sall thai perishe in the inquensibill fyr of hell a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 431.
The Lord … will schaik hevin and eirth or he perische c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxv. 24.
My spreit … is lyk to pereish in the stryff

2. a. Of a ship: To be lost by shipwreck or sinking. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1965.
Quhar thar schippes sall peris all 1549 Compl. 159/19.
Ane onexpert master … is occasione that the schip pereseis c1575 Balfour Pract. 618. a1578 Pitsc. II. 122/22. Ib. 319/1.
Perrische 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 331.
The said schip already leekis apperand to perreis 1581 Ib. 367.
Perisit 1582 Edinb. Test. X. 314 b.
Quhilk schip did happin to perreis be hir arrivale in the hame cuming 1590 Crim. Trials I. i. 237.
Be thair … inchantment the boit perischit betuix Leith and Kinghorne 1596 Dalr. II. 17/29.
Perisse 1622-6 Bisset II. 238/28.
Pereise Ib. 241/21.
Pereische 1640 Banff Ann. I. 84.
Perischit 1654 Lamont Diary 78.
A passage boate … perished a litell without the beacon 1659 Ib. 117.

b. Of other inanimate things: To undergo loss, decay or ruin; to be extinguished, demolished or destroyed.The second quot. f. Troy-bk. may be an instance of 6 b below. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 76.
Martha that was rycht wyse Wald nocht thole thare landis perice c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 902 (C).
The palaas … fell … Peryst [D. perrest] and brent all in-to brandis Ib. 385.
Sene the prest Thoas … Hath lever peryse the cite Of hys tratory … than he wold tyne The gold 1533 Gau 36/8.
The kingis of the vardil ar vntit with olie quhilk perisis a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv. 45.
Better it were guid reformatione Nor lat it [the realm] perishe sa vnprudentle 1573 Bannatyne in Calderwood III. 276.
The said scrolls … sould altogether lose and perish 1590 Welwod 71. 1596 Dalr. I. 21/6. Ib. II. 378/27.
Because thair the sent perisses to wit in the watir 1607 Mining Rec. 119.
[The] hole laidning of the same [ship] perished and sunk in the sea 1619 Crim. Trials III. 503.
Perrische 1637 Justiciary Cases I. 283.
In that fatall fyre quhairby … his house his evidentis his gold and silver perrischet

3. Of non-material things: To come to nothing, cease to exist, be lost or extinguished.In general and legal applications. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 80.
Gif … the woman dee that humage sal nocht perus c1490 Porteous Noblenes 175/11 (A).
He that has na honour … his loving perisis and gud name levis him a1500 Colk. Sow i. 482.
Perreis 1570 Reg. Privy S. VI. 169.
Na wayis willing … that the said Maister James reward sall end and pereis with his persoun a1578 Pitsc. I. 134/5.
Quhais autorietie of force man perische Ib. II. 74/17.
Ane imortall lyffe the quhilk … sall never perische or haue ane end 1579 Reg. Privy S. VII. 330/1.
Syndrie actiounis … depending … perrisches in default of gude and diligent awaiting on and defending a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 147.
[The] same exceptions … man be proponit [etc.] … wtherwayes they perishe

4. In the ‘perfect’ tense of previous senses, with have.Also with have deleted, as in Have v.¹ 1513 Doug. vi. v. 121.
Dreding scho [the ship] suld haue perist 1558-66 Knox II. 72.
Thame of Leith war verray skairce of victualls and thay of the Insche had perescheit 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 164/35.
Affirmand all thame to haif perissit quhilkis war out of it [Noah's Ark] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 40/13. 1567 Inverness Rec. I. 148.
Ane of … his oxin … hes pereist in his house 1602 Colville Paraenese 32.
Other sects … and all hereseis … for the most part haue perissit 1648 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 186.
Ther ar mane that wold rather the King should periset then the notes to be his restorers

5. To be peris(i)t. a. = senses 1–3. b. = ‘perfect’ tense of senses 1–3; cf. sense 4.c. In many instances interpretation as a or b seems equally possible.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 99.
Hyr cister … That in poynte wes periste to be Ib. 430, 431.
That thinge restoryt is but wene That uterly periste has bene Quhethir myn sawle perist be That [etc.] Ib. xvi. 391.
Fore thu mycht sone peryste be Be storme that hapnis in the se c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1095.
And that kynges [etc.] … Tholys a wirgyne innocent … To be peryst withouten blame c1420 Wynt. iii. 300. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 94 (B).
Or ellys the valw of it gyf it be peryst or spylt in his kepyng 1456 Hay I. 115/16.
To [the High Constable] … efferis … to se … that nane be perist at evill portis [etc.] c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 3529.
Quhairfor me think we suld … mak sum messingere And nocht in our defalt be perist here a1487 Gud Wyf & D. (S.T.S.) 100.
Quhill at all be perist at the last a1500 Henr. III. 166/27.
O Lord … Thy pepill ar perreist 1528 Lynd. Dreme 943.
Remane I heir I am bot perysit 1533 Bell. Livy I. 18/4.
Quhare thir barnis war cassin to be perist 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2536.
Ȝit he will not thairfoir ȝe perischit be(2) c1420 Wynt. iv. 31.
And syne hapnyd he peryst was Throw hard tempest and swdane cas Ib. 1490.
All his elyphantis … hors and catalle peryst ware Ib. vii. 2802, 3446. c1420 Wynt. vi. 663 (W).
Quhare he wes perist [R. he swa peryst] thar wes a grene c1460 Regim. Princ. 175 (Maitl.).
How mony princeis war perreist on this wys 1533 Bell. Livy I. 111/22.
Thai … slang him in the wattir … quhare he was perist 1535 Stewart 33326. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 225.
The haill armes and horssis … wer … tint and perisched a1578 Pitsc. I. 10/14.
Be the governouris intoxicat counsall thir nobill men in feild war perrischit allb. (1) c 1545 St. A. Univ. Rec. xxi.
That it is neir perist and meretis nocht to be callit ane vniuersite 1561–2 Reg. Privy C. I. 201.
The maist part of the scheip of Scotland ar perissit and deid 1567 G. Ball. 88.
For perysit is halynes 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 147.
[For all the devices are] peirisit [for fault of wisdom and] stomeg 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata (1627) Ep. Dedic.
The writtings of the other two are perished by the iniurie of time 1639 Fugitive Poetry II. xvii. 2/41.
Where if I Had not been sav'd by God mirac'lously I had been perisht 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 76.
By reasone that all the poore sogers are almost perisched and in danger of thair lyves for want of schoes and clothes(2) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 975.
I … Quhilk was befoir perischit and desolait Ib. 1357.
Innumerabill folk I saw flotterand in feir Quhilk pereist on the walterand wallis weir 1551 Hamilton Cat. 244.
Quhen thou was perissit and condemnit to hel 1697 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV. 354.
The mean of improbation … was perishedc. 1456 Hay I. 16/4.
Be the quhilkis clerkis was understandin the grete schippis that was perist in the sea the thrid part of thame Ib. 203/16.
To save his saule that othir wayis suld be perist and dampnyt perpetualy 14.. Statut. Sc. Ch. 6.
We curs … Al thaim that castis thar barnis at kyrk duris [etc.] … to be perist ony maner of way a1500 Seven S. 342.
That it was pete for to se Sa worthy frut suld perist be 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II. fol. 82 b (4 Aug.).
That bayth schip & varing wes peryst in the hame cuming a1568 Bann. MS. 15 b/7.
Quhame men do feir thay wis war perischeid c1575 Balfour Pract. 633.
All shippis gudis and merchandice that ar perisht and win a-flot in the sea

d. P.p. (That has, have) perished. (Elliptical for a or b above.) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1384 (E).
Ȝone lustie schip thow seis pereist and tint 1551 Reg. Privy S. IV. 222/2.
Johne Achesoun marinare laitlie pereissit in the havin of Leith 1576 Orkney Oppress. 61.
Twa widois quha had thair husbandis perissit upon the see 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS. 17 Oct.
And diuers schipis be tempest perischit

6. tr. a. To cause to perish, cause or bring about the death of, be the destruction of (a person or his life). b. To cause the ruin or destruction of, bring down (a realm).a. 1494 Loutfut MS. 29 a.
Drownit or devourit thaim that is to say perist thaim [etc.] 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 180.
Wald God ȝhe purchest bot ȝour awyn myschans And war na banareris forto perych mo 1598 Elgin Rec. II. 66.
That Janat Nauchtie haid perischit ane man chyld in Lossie 1616 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 83.
Saying scho had perischit and smoirit in hir drunkines hir awin young bairne 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS. 25 May.
For feir … that scho perreisch hir self in the watter 1632 Lithgow Trav. (1906) 313.
Their burser … had almost perished his owne lifeb. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 183/237.
An auld fule kinge quhilk … may perys a realme