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.

Plew-, Plw(e-irnis, -ys, -e(i)s, n. pl. Also: pleuand -yrn-, -iron-, -yron-, -arn-. [Plew n. 3 and Irne n. Cf. Pleuch-irnis n.] The metal parts of a plough, esp. the coulter and share. Also proverb.Appar. commoner than Pleuch-irnis, esp. in early use. c1420 Wynt. viii. 3163.
He bade that ilke man alswa Suld noucht fra thare plwys ta Thare plw-yrnys 1457 Exch. R. VI. 357.
Plewirnis 1458 Ib. 425.
Plwe irnys 1535 Stewart 51517. 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 236 b.
The making of a pair of new plew irnis the price iij ss. vj d. 1570 Lanark B. Rec. 50.
Thre pundis of irne quhilk hie coft to lay his pleu arnis with 1572 Elgin Rec. I. 134.
Ane pleuch and plew irnis 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 26.
Quha had stollin thair plew irnes fittick and mwsell 1592 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 40. 1596 Edinb. Test. XXIX. 286 b.
Ane paire of plew irneis 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII. 271.
[Iron gates] to be removit and turnit in plew irnis 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 274.
For the working of the pound of yron of plew yronis of grose and great work as sock coulter [etc.]proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1130.
Pryd & plew irones wold hav much uphold a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1250.
Pryde and plew irons sould have meikle beiting