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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.

Pert-, Peirtly, -lie, adv. Also: perte-; peart-; pairt-; part- and -lye. [ME. and e.m.E. pertly (14th c.), peert-, piertly (16th c.), f. Pert a.] Pertly, in various senses and applications.There is some overlapping between the various senses.

1. Openly; without concealment.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 678.
Quhare-of foure thingis the angele Til his faddir cane pertly tele Ib. xl. 1043.
To the tone ȝet went he sone & als pertly duelt als stil As he had neuir done ony il a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 402 (Asl.).
Quhar men in syn dar pertlie perseveire 1546–7 Ruddiman Epist. II. App. 382.
Utheris … baneist of auld now cummis pertlie without ony dredour … to the court 1551 Hamilton Cat. 96.
That can excuse thame fra thyft othir privatly or pertly, plainly or ellis under colour a1568 Bann. MS. I. p. 45/21.
The rankest theif … Dar pertly peir vnto the sessioun 1596 Dalr. II. 351/5.
This deadlie feid … was the caus that ilk … slew vther pertlie c1650 Spalding II. 325.
That so few men so pertlie and publictlie sould haue disgraceit sic a brave brughe(b) 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 66.
Bot quha sa euer … Hes preissit peirtly to leif vprichtlie a 1586 Sat. P. xxxvii. 42.
Gif ȝe be secreit … Peirtlie thai speik that privalie ȝe play a1605 Montg. Son. xlv. 2.
Rad to reveill that peirtly I propone c1650 Spalding I. 191.
The bischop Bellenden cam peirtlie to his lodging in New Abirdein

b. Frankly; without reservation. — 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7564.
Fra thy awin ey first thow draw out the balk To thy nichtbour than peirtly thow may talk

2. Boldly; unflinchingly; without being overawed. b. ? Readily; briskly.(a) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 927.
He … Pertly put with his pith at his pesane a1500 K. Hart 885.
He can him smertlie smyte His bak in twa richt pertlie for dispyte a1500 Seven S. 1435.
That perell pertlie sall I prufe 1531 Bell. Boece I. 28.
Thay drew thaim pertly to thair wappinnis Ib. II. 376.
Thay ruschit pertely, with new spreit and curage, on thair ennimes Id. Livy II. 215/28.
Incontinent this Camillus … past pertlie to the said Ardeatis 1533 Gau 86/10.
That ve may … cry traistfullie and pertlie to thé in al our aduersite 1535 Stewart 2167.
Dowalus men … enterit in richt pertlie in the preis Ib. 8184.
Caratac … like ane man held pertlie vp his face c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 504.
Pertlie to preif thair pith thay preist a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxi. 34. 1596 Dalr. I. 323/19.
The king with a draune sworde pertlie and stranglie … invades his faes 1581-1623 James VI Poems II. 81/59.
My muse, how pertlie thus thou sings Who rather ought solsequium like attend(b) ?1438 Alex. i. 2220.
A point than peirtly can thai ma c1475 Wall. (1570) v. 1015.
Unto the yet thay twa peirtly furth raid c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 761.
Than peirtlie answerit the squyar, And said: O tratour 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2336.
For to win in peirtlie thairat scho knokkit 1592 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II. 173.
Go fordvard … pertlie and manfullie c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 7 b.
Ye man send some that will speake peirtlie to his majestie(c) c1475 Wall. ix. 1788.
A part off power new, On restyt hors, that partly couth persew(d) a1578 Pitsc. I. 235/2. Ib. 204/12.
The knyghtis … junitt pairtlie togither witht right awfull contienance(e) 1375 Barb. x. 315 (H).
Peartly 1622 D. Lindesey Heavenly Chariot 12.
Dare they not face the matter peartlie? Ib. 14.
One … who will both peartlie and fearcelie giue in his bill against thee

3. Audaciously; impudently, insolently. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 244.
All the pertlyar in plane thai put out ther vocis 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 157.
Be thame that peirtlye tuke on hand To gyde … all Scotland 1531 Bell. Boece I. 99.
That ane pepill … so pertlie sal contempne the power of Romanis 1533 Boece ix. i. 287 b.
Copa … dissymuling him glade … pertlie to his servandis promyst the King suld haue perfite heill a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcv. 2.
The commoun thevis Sa peirtlie stelis now … That nane [etc.] 1607 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 59.
Agnes … awowit maist peirtlie and impudentlie the same wes done be hir … foirknaulege