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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Palace, -as, Palais, n. Also: pall-, paill-, pell- and -aice, -asse, -aas, -es, -ece. [ME. paleis (c 1290), -eys, -ais (Cursor M.; v.r. -es), -ays, -ayce (c 1400, north.), e.m.E. palace, pallaice, -as, -es, OF. paleis, -ais, -ois. Cf. Palice.]Plur. with, also without, inflexion.

1. An official residence of an emperor, king, pope or other ruler; a royal palace; also, a bishop's or an abbot's palace.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 1096.
Na was [they] Cume to the king na his palas ?1438 Alex. ii. 7461. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 900 (C).
Of the which byrnyng … The palaas of the rewes fell c1420 Wynt. v. 386.
Quhill he was Slayne wytht his men in his palas [C. palasse] Ib. 2717.
Fra hys palas [the Pope] In hys way past to the plas … ordanyd … for his bathyng Ib. 727, 1024. c1450-2 Howlat 668 (A).
Thai … Past till a palace of pryce … Pantit and apparalit proudly in pane 1456 Hay I. 14/12.
And [Constantine] gave the pape his awin propre palace of Rome callit the palace of Latranene c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2102.
His mother haid drawin hir till a tour Within ane pallace a1500 Seven S. 183. 1515 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 156.
Convict … for the cruell hurting of Robert Roger … within my lord gouernouris chalmer and palace of pece 1527 Douglas Corr. 123.
At the kingis hienes palace besydis the abbay of Halyrudhous 1554 Acts II. 601/2.
Palacijs a1578 Pitsc. II. 124/21.
Than the king went to his palace … the Duik of Guise leidand our Scoittis quein hame to hir palace Ib. I. 354/8.
Pallaceis 1579 Reg. Privy S. VII. 313/1.
Palaceis 1600 Acts IV. 239/2.
Lyk as diuerse persones vnder pretence of thair awin defence repairis … within his maiesteis palaces 1626 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 204.
Pallace 1660 Mercurius Caledonius 31 Dec.
His majesties pallace, the present residence of the Lord Commissioner(b) c1400 Troy-bk. i. 316.
Quhill thai come to the kingis palais [: wais (= ways)] ?1438 Alex. ii. 2629.
And [they] led him in thare palais [: playis] 1559 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 297.
The otheris tymmer werk bayth in palais and stabillis [sc. in Falkland] I sall reform 1563-72 Ferg. Tracts 48.
I am … sorie … that suche … hath interteniment in the palaices of princes(c) c1510 Prester John 310 b.
We wyll that ȝe wyt of our palece that [etc.](2) c1475 Wall. viii. 1714.
[Wallace] To Parys went … The king that tym held palace in that toun(3) 1566 Digest Justiciary Proc. F. .
Within thair maiesties paillec of Halirudhous 1586 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 248.
From my palles of Holyrudhouse ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I. 24.
The pellace of Helyrudehouse(4) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 302.
The pallace of Paslay

2. Any large and splendid residence; a mansion. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 223.
Castellis and palais mony one Thar-in was wrought of marbilestone c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 63/30.
He that … makis laubour … to big ane palace or ane place that he thinkis neuer to duell in … has … caus to be callit a fule Id. Mir. I. 127/4.
Quhen ony prince [etc.] … passis to a place ore palace … thai send thare messingere before 15.. Clar. ii. 343.
So raid thay furth unto the knichts palace [: solace] c1590 Fowler I. 394/1.
The princlie pallace braue, the glorius gouldin halls 1663 McDowall Dumfries App. 143 (see Lug(e)in(g n. 5).

3. In various transf. and fig. uses. a1400 Leg. S. v. 255.
For ȝe twa vnhappy tynte had Far palacis that sal leste euirmare Ib. vi. 342.
Fele palace Has bene & are in hewine alwais ?1438 Alex. ii. 6764.
Jupiteris hie palais … That was masoned … weill 1490 Irland Mir. I. 29/15.
He js jn the palace of hevin a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1380 (Asl.).
O precious palace … Quhar lyf … euer lestis immortale 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i. 501.
Some [bees] waxen pallaces with paine do reir

4. Attrib., = in the style of a palace, as if for a palace.Cf. Palice n. 2 b. ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 57.
For thai had the ile well biggit in palace-wark according to thair auld fassoun