Obs. (exc. dial.) Forms: α. 5 coresy, corysy; 6 corrosie, -ey, corasey, 6–7 corasie, (9 dial. corrosy, corrisee, -zee, correesy). β. 6 corsie, coarsie, coresie, -ey, 6–7 corsey, corzie, corzy(e. [Reduced from corĕsive, CORROSIVE, by weakening of final -if, -ive, to -ie, -y, as in hastif, -ive, HASTY, tardif, -ive, TARDY; and by syncopation of the medial short vowel as in CORSIVE.]
A. sb. 1. = CORROSIVE sb. (usually fig.)
α. c. 1450. in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 217. There is non erbe that growyth on grounde Nor no coresy may queth that qued.
1530. Tindale, Prol. Pentateuch, Wks. (1573), 10. He … doth but heale hys woundes with freatyng coroseis.
15[?]. Pater Sapientiæ, xliv. in Ashm. (1652), 199. Sulphurs in waters of Corrosie.
a. 1625. Boys, Wks. (1629), 476. The Law being the ministration of death, is rather a corasie then an healing medicine.
β. 1526. Tindale, Pathw. Scripture, Wks. (1573), 383. The Law … is a sharpe salue, and a freatyng corsey, and killeth the dead flesh.
1552. Huloet, Gyue or minister a corsey, vrere hominem.
1556. J. Heywood, Sp. & Flie, xiv. 33. That corsey woulde curstly your stomake gnaw.
a. 1604. Churchyard, Challenge, 37. And corzies rose, that made a running sore.
a. 1656. Vines, Lord’s Supp. (1677), 347. Let the patient see and search his sin, and apply the corzy of the Law.
2. fig. A cause of trouble and grief, a grievance.
α. 1548. Hall, Chron., 176. Which was a great displeasure to ye kyng, and a mere corasey [Grafton corrosey] to the quene.
1569. Newton, Cicero’s Old Age, 4. Shoulde the same discommodities, corasies and greeuaunces happen unto me.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 50. So lose ye your cost, to your coresie and smart.
1599. Warn. Faire Wom., II. 1651. Your mother; Leaving you, poore soules, by her offence, A coresie and a scandall to the world.
1847–78. Halliwell, Corrosy, a grudge; ill will. Devon.
1880. Miss Courtney, W. Cornwall Gloss., Correesy, Corrizee, an old grudge; a sort of family feud handed down from father to son.
β. c. 1534. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden), I. 241. This was such a corsie to the herte of Edwinus that shortlie after hee died.
1567. Turberv., Epitaph Sir J. Tregonwell. It was no corsie to this Knight long travaile to sustaine.
1598. Barkcley, Felic. Man, III. (1603), 276. Princes … feele many times more corzies and vnquietnesse of mind.
1601. Dent, Pathw. Heaven, 314. Is it not a corsey, that the Ministers of Christ should be of scandalous conuersation?
B. adj. Corrosive; smarting; purulent.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. III. (1641), 98/2. The pining Phthisik fils them all with pushes, Whence a slowe spowt of cor’sie matter gushes.
Corsie a.2, var. CORSY, corpulent, big-bodied.
