poustie

From Middle English pouste, from Anglo-Norman pousté, Old French poesté, posté etc., from (the stem of) Latin potestās (“power”). Doublet of podesta.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpuːsti/, /ˈpaʊsti/

poustie (uncountable)

1. (now Scotland, Ireland) Power, authority, strength, health.
   • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XIV:

     ‘A, good knyght,’ seyde he, ‘thou arte a foole; for that jantillwoman was the mayster fyende of helle, which hath pouste over all other devyllis […].’

   • 2020 Department of Health (NI), An Roinn Sláinte, Männystrie O Poustie

• piteous