subs. (old).—1. A freshman; (2) a student at the Inns of Court; (3) a junior. Hence, PUNYSHIP = youth. Also (4) = a puisne judge or bencher.
1548. W. PATTEN, Somerset’s March [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 520. We see the phrases good literature (scholarship) … PUNIES (juniors)].
15[?]. Ulysses vpon Ajax, B8. A PUNEY of Oxford.
1593. NASHE, Christ’s Teares [GROSART, Works, iv. 228]. Laughing at the PUNIES they have lurched. Ibid. (1599), Lenten Stuffe [Harleian Miscellany, vi. 171]. In the PUNIESHIP or nonage of Cerdicke Sandes.
1607. An Account of the Christmas Prince (1816), 1. Others to make sporte … were they whome they call Fresh-menn, PUNIES of the first yeare.
1607. DEKKER, Westward Ho! i. 2. There is only in the amity of women an estate at will, and every PUNY knows that is no certain inheritance. Ibid., v. 3. The PUNIES set down this decree.
1634. MARSTON, in Lectores, &c. [NARES]. Each odd PUISNE of the lawyer’s inne.
c. 1640. [SHIRLEY], Captain Underwit, ii. [BULLEN, Old Plays, ii. 340]. Preach to the PUISNES of the Inne sobrietie.
Adj. (old: now recognised).—Weak; small.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
