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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.

Post,, Poist(e, n.¹ Also: poast. [ME and e.m.E. post(e, late ME poost, e.m.E. poast, also ME (once) pos (1340), OE post post, pillar, door-post, L. postis post, door-post, (in med. L., also a rod, pole, beam); also OF post (12th c. in Godef.; mod. F. pôt) post, pillar, beam, and MLG, MDu. post door-post, also f. the Latin.]Knight of the post, see Knicht n.² d.

1. An upright of timber, or other solid material, esp. one used in building as a support for a super-structure; a post, a pillar; also a tent-post.(To build) with post and pan (Pan n.²), having vertical and horizontal timbers as a framework for the walls. (Cf. e.m.E. (of) postis and pannes (1517), mod. north. Eng. post-and-pan (1788–).)

b. fig. A support, prop, ‘pillar’.Also c. in the proverb, to strike a hag (= notch) into the post, i.e. as a record.a. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 10934.
Thair was the kingis awin tent … The postis war of euory fyne c1420 Wynt. iii 475.
About twa pyllarys … He kest hys armys … and swa The post he tyt tyll hym sa fast Quhyll downe the hous come at the last 1513 Doug. ii viii 89.
The woful moderis ran … throw out the chawmeris wyde Brasand the postis in armys and durris cald Ib. v vii 55.
Quhar beyn the spulȝe triumphal mony one Within thine hows hyngis on euery post? Ib. ix vii 85.
Goddes … , at thy standart, knoppit post of tre … Gif evir I … fixit ony thyng [etc.] Ib. iii v 5.
Post [Sm. poist, Ruddim. poiste] Id. Concl. 14.
Thus vp my pen and instrumentis full ȝor On Virgillis post I fix 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Columen, the chiefe post or lairg c 1639 Scots Lore I 163.
For … sparrs & posts of aid to the dowcat 1666 J.M. Beale Fife Schools 216.
[Those who had borrowed] the great poasts [belonging to the new schoolhouse were ordered to provide them against Martinmas next](2) 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I 206.
Sic as biggis with poist and pan and layes with blak morterb. a1538 Abell 122 b.
He wes ane stark post … aganis the infidelis Ib. 123 b.
Ane herittik that before wes a post of our ordur & syne passit to hericec. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4435 (see Hag n.).

2. A vertical mass of rock.Cf. 18th c. Eng. post, in this sense (1712). 1668 Glasgow Chart. II 135.
To tirr six elnes of ground inward on the topp of the said craig … and to wonne stones dounward to the bottom of the poiste