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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.

Pile, Pyle, n.² Also: peill. [Late ME. pile (c 1420), pyle (c 1440), pyele (16th c.) a pillar, a heap of things (Prompt. Parv.), ? series of weights (Ib.), ‘the whole masse of weights vsed by goldsmiths, etc.’ (Cotgrave), edifice (1607), F. pile (1340 in Godef.) heap, pyramid, etc., L. pila pillar, pier.]

1. Rendering med. L. (garba ferri) pile, in which the application of pile is not clear: ? (Iron) in bars.Cf. Pile n.¹ 14.. Acts I. 306/2.
Of ilk schef of jryn pile that is to say xvj gaddis

2. ‘A series of weights fitting one within or upon another, so as to form a solid cone or other figure. (So F. pile)’ (OED.).Also attrib. with -wecht.(a) 1582–3 Cunȝiehous Acc. 5 b.
Payeit for ane pair of ballance and ane twa staine pyle 1635 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 46.
Ane pyle of English weight of halfe ane staine 1647 Ib. I. lxxx.
The new 4 lb. pyle marked with a fleure de lyce 1682 Ib. II. 192.
The deane of gilds weights of Edinburgh which are fare different from the new pyle of weights sent hither by his majestie for the commone rule of weight 1682 Edinb. City Archives McLeod's Bundle 39.
For securitie of the weight of the money coyned in this kingdome wee alwayes haveing a pyle of weight in our cunȝiehouse 1682 Ib. Moses Bundle 254 No. 7741.
By the standard Scotts pyle 1686 Acts in Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 210.
That there shall be thrie pyles of weight whereof one to be keeped in exchequer, one by the dean of gild of Edinburgh and the third in the mint house and [etc.](b) 1694 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 239.
To … bring the said ponds and peill of weights alongs with themattrib. 1610 Reg. Privy C. VIII. 402.
The justit pyle weght 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 288.
Ballances called … pile weghtis 1621 Edinb. Test. LI. 76.
Halfe ane stane pyle weicht of brase price thrie pundes tuelfe schillingis 1647 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. lxxx.
Compared the forsaid round brasse stone weight … with a new brasse stone pyle weight in the coinyehouse, and I found the said new pyle weight havier by almost halfe one oz.

b. fig. ? A large amount. — a1500 Sir Eger 425.
Nor soreness found I never a pyle While I came here within a myle