A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Pound, Pownd, n.2 [ME and e.m.E. poonde, ponde (14–15th c.), pounde, pownde a prison or pen (Wyclif), a pond (Trevisa), a pinfold (1425), an act of impounding (1464), earlier comb. in early ME and ME pund-breche (12th c.), pount-breche (1292), e.m.E. pound-breach, breaking of a pound, OE *pund ? enclosure, pound, of unknown ulterior origin. Cf. Poind n., Pund n.2 and Pundfald n.]
1. a. A beast or article distrained, a distress. b. transf. = Poind n. 2, Pund n.2 1 b. c. In pound, ? in distraint or ? in confinement. d. Pound-hous, a building in which impounded or distrained cattle or goods were kept.a. 1524 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 74 (see Pound v. (1)). 1530–1 Ib. 111.
To tak his sword for ane pound of the annuell of his tenement 1539 Ib. 213. 1630 Linlithgow B. Rec. 20 Aug. (see Pound v. (3)).b. c1420 Wynt. ix 84.
A cumpany gat he And rade in Ingland for to ta A pownd [v.rr. poynd(e] and swne it hapnyd swa That off catale thai gat a prayc. 1700 W. Wisheart Sermon.
Mine own soul that is laid in poundd. 1677 Inverness Rec. II 275.
Four officers to search & find out these swyne & hoggs and to secur them in pound houssis & keip & deteane them therin
2. A pond; spec. a fish-pond.1567 Reg. Privy S. VI 12/1.
[Shall have also meadows in all places] unacum stagnis et alneis lie poundis [for fish] c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 62.
The sunne … sometyme did show lyke a deipe and large pound or leacke of blood
