Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Plesand, Ple(a)sant, n.² Also: plais-. [e.m.E. plaisant (1606), F. plaisant one who amuses, entertains (1538 in Wartburg), subst. use of plaisant Plesand ppl. a. (Cf. Plesand n.¹ 2).] A jester, fool, clown. 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Morio, a plesand, a playfoole 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 874.
Idle persons without lawfull calling as pypers fidlers … pleasants strang beggers 1603 Philotus iv. 1616–7 Misc. Spald. C. V. 96.
To Archibald Armstrong, his majesties plesant 1630 Drummond II. 87/633.
How many … (as wee doe pleasants) vse all for recreation? 1638 Baillie I. 151.
The man delyvered his voyce in a quick merry taill so that he became to us almost a pleasant 1638 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 62.
To ane lame man called Ross who plays the plaisant 3 s. 1664 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II. 511.
To Edward the pleasant