posset, n. Now only Hist. or local.
(ˈpɒsɪt)
Forms: 5 posho(o)te, poshotte, poshet, possot, possyt, possate, 5–6 poset, possett, 7 possit, Sc. possat, 5– posset.
[ME. poshote, possot, of unascertained origin. Palsgr. (1530) gives a F. possette, but this is not otherwise known to French scholars. Ir. pusoid, posset, is from English.
Connexion with posca has been suggested.]
1. A drink composed of hot milk curdled with ale, wine, or other liquor, often with sugar, spices, or other ingredients; formerly much used as a delicacy, and as a remedy for colds or other affections.
| 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 567/22 Balducta, a crudde, Item dicitur, poshet. 14.. Metr. Voc. ibid. 625/18 Casius, poshoote. 14.. Voc. ibid. 666/9 Hec bedulta, possyt. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 410/2 Possot, balducta. c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 94 Milke, crayme, and cruddes, and eke the Ioncate, Þey close a mannes stomak and so dothe þe possate. 1466 Paston Lett. II. 269 For bred, ale, and possets to the same persons, vid. 1530 Palsgr. 257/1 Posset of ale and mylke, possette. 1546 T. Phaer Bk. Childr. (1553) T vj, Knotgrasse..the iuice therof in a posset dronken..is excedyng good. 1605 Shakes. Macb. ii. ii. 6 The surfeted Groomes doe mock their charge With Snores. I haue drugg'd their Possets. 1648 Herrick Hesper., To Phillis, Thou shalt have possets, wassails fine; Not made of ale, but spiced wine! 1711 Addison Spect. No. 57 ¶2 [He] can make a Caudle or a Sack-Posset better than any Man in England. 1789 W. Buchan Dom. Med. xxix. (1790) 277 His supper should be light; as small posset, or water-gruel sweetened with honey, and a little toasted bread in it. 1876 F. E. Trollope Charming Fellow II. xiii. 205, I do wish he would try a hot posset of a night, just before going to bed. |
b. attrib., as posset-ale, posset-basin, posset-bowl, posset-cup, posset-curd, posset-dish, posset-drink, posset-pot.
| 1528 St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 299 A possetale, hauing certein herbes clarified in it. 1551–60 in H. Hall Eliz. Soc. (1887) 152 A possett Boule of Pewter. 1596 Nashe Saffron Walden 125 Hee lou'd lycoras and drunke posset curd. 1606 Sir G. Goosecappe ii. i. in Bullen O. Pl. III. 40 Posset Cuppes caru'd with libberds faces and Lyons heads with spouts in their mouths, to let out the posset Ale. 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 342 Plain posset drink alone, reasonable warm, will do well. 1680 Hon. Cavalier 11, I know some, who prefer..the Possit-Bason before the Hallowed Font. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physic (1765) 59 Drink a Quarter of a Pint of Allum Posset drink. 1821 Scott Kenilw. vi, A gold posset-dish to contain the night-draught. |
2. dial. The curdled milk vomited by a baby.
(Yorksh. and Lancash. in Eng. Dial. Dict.)
Hence ˈposset v. † (a) trans. to curdle like a posset (obs.); (b) intr. (i) to make a posset; (ii) of a baby: to throw up curdled milk.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. v. 68 And with a sodaine vigour it doth posset And curd, like Aygre droppings into Milke The thin and wholsome blood. 1859 G. Meredith R. Feverel xxix, She broke off to go posseting for her dear invalid. 1903 Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v., Bless its little heart, it's possetting again. [Cited from Westmld. to South Notts.] |