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.
Persing, ppl. a. Also: peirc-, pierc-, pearc(e)- and -yng. [Late ME. and e.m.E. percing(e (Lydgate), e.m.E. piercing (c 1586): Cf. Persand a.] Penetrative, keen, sharp, piercing. a. Chiefly, fig. of the eye or the mind, of wind, of emotions, of words, etc. b. lit.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 93.
[The lion] Persing of luke 1513 Doug. iv. v. 154.
The wyndis persyng by and by a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 973 (Wr.).
The piercing passions of the spirit [L. the passiones of thi persing spreit] 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 109.
[God's] eye is sa pearcing 1587-99 Hume 19/70.
The eyes … With bemming blenks & persing luiks 1600-1610 Melvill 125.
In the application of his doctrine quhilk was wounderfull persing Ib. 261.
Persing war the pretchingsb. c1590 Fowler I. 26/30.
Nother helmet nor yit targe thair pearceing shottis can byde a1605 Montg. Son. xlviii. 7.
The peircing pyks [sc. of hawthorn] groues at thy gorge
