1566 T. Blundeville Order Curing Horses Dis. cxix. f. 87^v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe Of a neather taynt... This is a little bladder full of Jelly, much lyke vnto a windgal, not apparant to the eye, but to the feling, growing in the midst of the pastorne, somewhat aboue the frushe. It commeth by a strain, or else by some wrinch, or by an ouer reach.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 672 His observations are particularly applicable to the curl, still they will apply equally well to the taint.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 279/1 Taynte, condamne [n.].

1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. Sss1^v, Taint..signifieth either substantiuely a conviction, or adiectiuely a person convicted of felonie or treason &c. See Attaint.

1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem i. 13 Gif the assisors sall happin to be convict as mensworne in the court, be ane Taynt; that is, be probation of twentie foure loyall men.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) A Taint, a Conviction.

1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Hvj, Pearles, stones, iewels, pictures With costelie kynde of tainte.

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. i. 115 The crimson tainte, which should be laid vpon a Ladies lips, or right in the center of her cheekes.

1590 R. Greene Mourning Garment 18 Face Rose hued, Cherry red, with a siluer taint like a Lillie.

1593 Earl of Oxford in R. S. Phœnix Nest 63 This pleasant Lillie white, This taint of roseat red.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 134^v, If he swell of the Taint, or Stingworme.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia epidemica iii. xxvii. 176 There is found in the Summer a kind of spider called a Tainct of a red colour... This by Countrey people is accounted a deadly poison unto Cowes and Horses; who, if they suddenly die, and swell thereon, ascribe their death hereto, and will commonly say, they have licked a Tainct.

1656 T. Blount Glossographia Tainct, a kinde of red-coloured spider so called, and found in the Summer-time.

1696 J. Aubrey Misc. (1857) 138 The little red spider, called a tentbob (not so big as a great pins head).

a1705 J. Ray Historia Insectorum (1710) 41 Araneus exiguus coccineus, vulgo Anglicè a Tant or Taint.

1605 R. Carew in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 99 I am tainted with a sparcke of Envye.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 40 Nero will be tainted with remorse. View more context for this quotation

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. v. 139 A pure vnspotted heart, Neuer yet taint with loue, I send the King. View more context for this quotation

1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. Pref. Those who are tainted with Scepticism.

1761–2 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) V. lxix. 198 Nowise tainted with enthusiasm.

1850 C. Lyell 2nd Visit U.S. (ed. 2) II. 115 The French or Spanish creoles here would shrink..from inter~marriage with one tainted, in the slightest degree, with African blood.

1884 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 26 124 It does not follow that all the subsequent payments were tainted with the original infirmity.

1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 17^v If it be ripe it shalbe lawnced, if it be broken it shalbe tainted.

1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 47 Whether dost thou wade Philautus, in launcing the wound thou shouldest taint.

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 352 If you slit his [sc. a horse's] forehead, and loosening the skin from the bone, taint it with Turpentine and Sallet-oyle, it will vndoubtedly help him.

1639 T. de Gray Compl. Horseman ii. v. 95 Annoynt, wash, bathe, and taint (if need be) the sorance.