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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PUIST, v.¹, adj., n.¹ Also peust; poost, poist (Jam.). [pøst]

I. v., tr. To cram, stuff full, fill to the top. Specif. “to cram (the stomach, oneself) with more food than nature requires” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.). Also used refl. or absol., to gorge, eat gluttonously (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Ppl.adj. poisted, of persons: ¶stuffed with food, fat and overfed.Sc. 1868 D. M. Ogilvy Willie Wabster (1873) 15:
Will Wabster, poisted as a puddock, And coglie as a weather cock.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 13:
A puisteet an leined masel weel.

II. adj. 1. Well-fed, stuffed with food, satisfied. Also in form puisty, id., thickset, corpulent (Rxb. 1923 Watxon W.-B.).Kcb. 1874 J. Matthewson MS. Poems 113:
Whan a' are contented, an' puist, an' fu'.

2. (1) Of persons: in easy circumstances, well-endowed with money and possessions, comfortably off, “applied to those who, in the lower walks of life, have made money, and live more comfortably, than the generality of their equals in station” (Gall., Dmf., 1825 Jam.; Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 152; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Kcb., Dmf. 1967). Also in form puistie (Jam.).Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun (1836) 116:
Puist fowk, unus'd to cudgel-play, And doose spectators.Sc. 1818 Anon. Scotland Compared 25:
These pawkie chiels grown puist by trade.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 389:
Some are puist, though not contented; but we cannot be puist unless we are competently rich.Sc. 1843 Chambers's Jnl. (18 Nov.) 351:
The heirs of tenants of a former generation have now become puist lairds.Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong Robbie Rankine 6:
Ye're hardheided an' gey puist.Peb. 1912 Scotsman (26 Jan.):
A person who was well-to-do was said to be “puist”.

(2) of inanimate things: rich, luxurious, palatial.Sc. 1818 Anon. Scotland Compared 30:
Like your puist ha', cramm'd fu' o' nick-ma-nacks.Gall. a.1900 “Mulciber Veritatis” Gallowa' Herds 9:
Factor James, Factor James, in neebor priests' hames, Muckle grudged is yer bias peust leevin.

III. n. A thick-set heavy person, someone who is “well-stuffed” or “padded” (Slk. 1825 Jam.); “one who eats heartily or excessively” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in dim. form puisty, a fat little person, “often applied playfully to children” (Ib.).