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.
Punse, Punce, v. [? Corresp. to ME and e.m.E. pounce, pounse, pownse, to pink (cloth) (early 15th c.), to emboss (1430), to prick (c1440), to pound or beat small (1515), to poke forcibly (1577).Appar. related to Puns(e n.1, prob. shortened f. F. poinçonner, OF ponchonner f. poinchon, ponchon n. (Puns(c)hio(u)n(e n.1). In sense 1 appar. only Sc., but cf. Pun(s)ch v.]
1. tr. To strike (another person) with the hands, knees or feet; to punch, kick or knee (another).1623 Peebles Gleanings 17.
Marioun … punst and straik her on the breist with her handis and feit 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 327. 1629 Ib. III 42.
With thair knees they birsed, bruised and punsed her so that she wes not able to stirre Ib. 57.
[They] punst him with thair feit 1630 Ib. 463.
The said Abrahame … with his feit punst her out of the bed 1687 Hector Renfrewshire Rec. I 47.
And puncing her with feet and hands and other offensive weapons 1694 Ib. 35.
And didst strick, punse and bruise her breast
2. ? To prick, puncture, stab; ? to poke, jab.1698 Renfrewshire Witches 31.
And when the witches prick or punce these images the persons … do find extreme torment
