Pursiness

pursiness, Asthma, ǎtis. f.

1838, Robert Smith Surtees, Jorrocks’s Jaunts and Jollities, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner, 2nd edition, 1843, No. I, “The Swell and the Surrey,” p. 6, […] any slight degree of pursiness that the good steeds may have acquired by standing at livery in Cripplegate, or elsewhere, is speedily pumped out of them by a smart brush over the turf […]

1595, Thomas Lodge, A Fig for Momus, Epistle VI, cited in J. W. Lever, The Elizabethan Love Sonnet, London: Methuen, 1966, p. 150, You pray me to aduise, and tell you what Will take away your pursiness and fat,

PURSINESS, […] obesity.

1906, Florence Parsons (as “Mrs. Clement Parsons”), Garrick and His Circle, London: Methuen, p. 131, Hogarth’s fine portrait of him, […] recently acquired by the National Gallery, suggests the double chin and general pursiness of the bon vivant.

When he smiled, the slight pursiness of his mouth disappeared, and a markedly irregular front tooth gave him a boyish air.

[…] as his lips pressed down upon hers, coaxing them to abandon their pursiness and relax, she gave a little moan of surprise.