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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pres, Preis, n. Also: prese, presse, prece; preise, preisse, preys; preas(e, preace, preass(e; prace; prais; price; (pers). [ME and e.m.E. pres, prece (1290), prees (c 1330), prese (c 1350), preese (a 1450), preas (a 1500), prayse (1509), preace, prease, preasse (16th c.), throng, mêlée (cf. mod. Eng. press id., also pressure (1899)), of obscure ulterior origin, but perh. f. ME presen Pres v.¹Obs. after c 1700 except in the dials. of Scotl. and north Eng.; elsewhere displaced by forms with a short vowel, f. ME presse, whence Pres(s n.]

1. Only in verse: Hand-to-hand fighting between soldiers from two armies; a mêlée; an affray. b. The thick of the fight; sustained attack at close quarters.Common in adv. phrases introduced by prepositions, often with omission of article.Proud in pres, see Proud(e adj. 1.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi 194.
Quhar he saw the thikkest pres … on thaim he raid a1500 Lanc. 3364.
Gret was the pres, bath perellus & throng c1475 Wall. i 229.
The pres was thik and cummirit thaim full fast Ib. iii 162. a1578 Pitsc. I. 75/29.
That they might nocht lang sustene prece of the Scottischemen(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 8874.
Thare dang he on … and thirlit the preis Ib. i 2613. 1531 Bell. Boece I 148.
The preis of armis and chevalry [L. prelium atque arma] ar na les refuge to febill creaturis than honour to vailyeant campionis(c) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1135.
Than Makferland that maid the prais From time he saw the squyeris face … did him ȝeild(d) a1578 Pitsc. I 55/13.
They … resistit the price [v.r. preace] and held of their adwerssaries right manfullie(2) 1375 Barb. ii 433.
Thai prikyt then out off the pres [: wes] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2130.
Diomeid … Gan rusche in-to the thikkest pres [: les] c1420 Wynt. iv 512.
The qwenys swn … in that pres [C. presse] was slayne to dede Ib. 753.
He callyd … his wageoures … Out off the pres off the bataylle c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 12455.
And brake thare speris in the myddis of the pers a1500 Lanc. 288.
His defens of armys in the pres [: prowes] c1475 Wall. ii 56.
Throuch oute the thikest of the pres he ȝeid Ib. vii 1118.
Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony pres [: ces] c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 149. 1513 Doug. x x 73.
Amyd the pres fut hoyt Lucagus entyris in hys chariote(b) 1375 Barb. xv 511 (E).
The lordis … Met togidder rycht in the preys c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 3479.
Preis c1475 Wall. iii 392.
Out off the thikest preys thai past 1535 Stewart 44649.
Hir awin self … With greit perrell wmschewit fra that preis 15.. Clar. v 2088. a1603 Anc. Prophecies 7.
The proudest in the preis, to baill shal be brought(c) ?1438 Alex. ii 9832.
In myddis the prece he met him thare c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1671.
That mony lordis war slane into that prese(3) c1420 Wynt. iv 1013.
He hym put in pres [W. to pres] sa fast, Quhill [etc.] Ib. v 2798.
Oure innymys In all kyn pres we may supprys Ib. 4994.
This Narses wes … In pres off were, bathe stowte and wycht Ib. viii 2570.
For oure lemmanys luwe Off pres yhit a poynt we pruwe Ib. vi 912. a1500 Rauf C. 624.
Lat him swyith in, Amang the proudest in preis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 236.
The prince provit in prese a1500 Sir Eger 1412. a1500 Colk. Sow i 456.
With anterous Hercules He did a battell in pres 1513 Doug. xi iii 34.
Till aventour hym self to de in pres

b. In weakened sense: Conflict; strife. — a1568 Bann. MS 259 b/19.
Pentagora to preif in pres

2. A dangerous or difficult situation; a predicament.To be set in … pres or put to ane pres, to be in, or to get into, danger or difficulty.(1) 1375 Barb. iii 129.
The king wes then in full gret pres c1420 Wynt. iv 978.
That kyng … For pres that he wes in … Lowsyd all his bryg off threte a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 645 (Asl.).
Quhen that of perrell approchis ony prese Of saull or body [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 158 a/33.
He is ane rekles boy in preis and in neid a1568 Balnevis Bann. MS 138 b/48.
To tar and tig syne grace to thig That is ane petous preis 1601 Melvill 496.
But pruff thy preass can nocht be understude(2) 1375 Barb. vii 425 (E).
He sall be set in mekill pres c1420 Wynt. ii 403.
Yhet ware thai set in hardare pres Ib. iv 900.
Quhen yhe se ws set in pres … Yhe … turne to se Ib. 2232. 1513 Doug. viii iv 142.
Hercules That on this wys had Cacus set in pres — 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 153.
Anis he was put to ane preace, Quhen that the quene of tressoun did accuse him

3. a. The action of coming together in a crowd; a crowding or thronging together or in the same direction. b. A crowd, throng or multitude (of people, also of things); (a) large number.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 87.
To here hym wes sik prese, That fawt of rowme gret thar wes a1500 Lanc. 2675.
The pres it wos so creuell & so strong … That … thei nedis most abak a1500 Seven S. 1857.
Than prekit Cato with all his pres To the palace 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1142.
The greit preis me opprest Ib. 1180.
Greit was the preis, the feist royall to sene c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 171 (B).
Thair scherp assay micht do to me no deirance For all thair preis and awfull ordinance 1513 Doug. viii v 21.
Other agit persons thame addressit to syng … throu the pres, The lovabill gestis of mychty Hercules c 1528 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI 116.
That multitud of pepille and greit pres in the counsell hous is greit impediment to yow 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 140.
The herauldis … With maseris … To rewle the preis 1611-57 Mure Doomesday 3.
My sprite … Aspires aboue the vulgar prease To raise a second flight(2) c1420 Wynt. ii 295.
Fra pres off men to halde thame fre 1494 Loutfut MS 1 a.
And of him that beris the said suerd for to defend & keip the way & pres of the pepill on baith the sidis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 475.
In passing of pilgrymage I pride me full mekle, Mair for the prese of peple, na ony perdoun wynyng Ib. lxxvii 50 (R).(b) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 916.
Sa greit ane preis of pepill drew vs neir c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 72.
I suld … be found … quhair preis was of folk 1531 Bell. Boece I 91.
Mony … war smorit in the cartis be preis of thaim that fled Ib. II 388.
Bot quhen ony preis of hors men come abone the said fowseis the lofting suld brek [etc.] 15.. Clar. ii 1548.
Preise a1578 Pitsc. I 99/2.
That he draif in the midis of the preis of the Earle of Crafurdis folkis … to be his saifgaird 1586 Crim. Trials I ii 146.
Preisse 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 862.
I beyng at your majesties dur, the preis of the pipill thrust me halff in(c) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3184.
Than on the bryggis come sic one prace Off fleand folkis(d) 15.. Clar. ii 753.
Prease 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. V 67.
Four sparris to withtstand the preas of the pepill 1609 Acts IV 424/1. 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 48.
He rushed … among the thickest preasse of his enemies Ib. 193.(3) 1622-6 Bisset II 253/11.
Quhere greit preise of schipis lyis in ane harbrie

c. ? A crowded place. But perh. erron. for Preso(u)n n.¹, rendering Ital. carcer. — c1590 Fowler I 65/193.
Tuix these a preis it was to which we cam by oppin way

4. Only Sc.: Pressure; force; strength, might, power.Also, once, the act of blowing, sounding (of trumpets).(1) c1420 Wynt. v 5000.
He wan mare prowes and renowne Wyth prayerys and devotyowne Than he dyde … Be pres off powere, or off [mycht] Ib. vi 2414.(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 1618.
And all the senatowrys … ware but pres [W. pres, C. presse] discumfyte ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 253.
The fals knychtis drew the scharp croun of thorn agane out of ȝour blist heid with sic preis and strenth that [etc.] c1500 Makc. MS x 38.
Thow send ws help … To brek his power & his pres a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 604. 1513 Doug. iii i 73.
The thyrd syoun of treys … I schupe to haue vprevyn with mair pres 1531 Bell. Boece II 230. Id. Livy I 293/11.
His collegis … set thame … to soft his preis 15.. Clar. iv 2143.
The arrow … com to him but preise or vehemence a1568 Bann. MS I p. 14/38.
God send ws grace … To brek thair power and thair preis(3) 1531 Bell. Boece I 237.
Aganis all preis and dangeir of ennimes 1533 Boece 586 b.
Be preis of the watter the hole verand mare ample and large a1538 Abell 51 b.
The treis … tak ane greit preis of the wynd 1538–9 Edinb. Guild Ct. 4 March.
And throu verray preis of the … hicht of his said hous thair lintale stanis … ar brokin a1568 Dunb. in Bann. MS I p. 46/33.
But [MS Bust] haist but preis of greit menȝe 1600-1610 Melvill 252.
Sic extremitie and preas of vomiting 1613 Crim. Trials III 263.(4) c1590 Fowler II 25/2.
13 debauchit scollers … casting thair hands all with one preis vpon my body(5) 1531 Bell. Boece I 109.
Baith the armyis, be thunderand preis of trumpat, junit, and faucht

5. Haste; urgency.To put (oneself) in pres, to exert oneself.(1) 1513 Doug. xii xii 131.
With na les pres and haist … He … persewys him fervently 1533 Bell. Livy I 222/35.
The fray and noyis … causit the Veanis to rusche with maist preis to harnes(2) a1568 Bann. MS 82 b/77.
Tyme quhen it is meit put thy self in prese [: pese (= peace), cese, incres]