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.
Quotation dates: 1538-1620
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Pun(s)ch, v. Also: punching vbl. n. [ME punche(n (Wyclif), -yn (Prompt. Parv.), e.m.E. punch (1530), ponche (1535), pounch (1542), to prick (Prompt. Parv.), to prod (Wyclif), to strike with the first (1530), to pierce (1548), appar. a collateral form of pounce (see Punse v.). (But the meaning of this Sc. word, and of Punse v., does not exactly agree with any of those of the e.m.E. and ME word.)] To strike with the feet, knees, and ? hands. = Punse v. 1. — 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. XVI (Jam.).
For the … punching of him with his feytt in the wame 1563–4 Criminal Trials I i 441.
And thair straik and punscheit the said vmquhile Robert vndir his feit and left him lyand for deid 1605 Ib. II 463.
And, with his kneyis, punchet the said Katharene in the bellie 1620 Ib. III 485.
[He] crewallie punschet and strak hir vpon the bak, wambe and sydis, and brak hir heart-pypes thairwith
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"Punch v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/punsch>
