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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.

Pete-, Peit-, Pait(t)-stane, n. Also: pate-, peat(t)and -stean, -ston(e. [Of uncertain derivation. See also Pettis-stane.SND conjectures that the first element is connected with Pete n.¹, ‘applied to various objects which resemble a peat in shape or colour’.]

A peat-stone.‘One of the stones in the gable-end of a house where wall meets roof and on which the coping stones rest, a skew-corbel or -table, a spur-stone … ; also applied to the coping-stones themselves; the keystone of an arch’ (SND, s.v. Peat n.¹ 6 (2)). 1529 Edinb. Guild Ct. 29 April.
With the pete stane put on be the said Mongo 1553 Crail B. Ct. MS. 31 July.
It sall be lesum to … draw the pettis stannis of this sammyne and that the pate stannis … to be sayt apon the meyd gawyll 1569 Ib. 20 Oct.
The said James sall … sett the pait stanis in the myddis of the foirsaid gawill and table stanes vpoun the thak of the said Robert hows 1585 Burntisland B. Ct. 6 April.
And absoluis him simpliciter fra the brochit paitt stonis [etc.] 1589 Edinb. Archit. Assoc. Trans. IX. 130.
And the said port to be erectit als heich … as … the peatt-stone of the geilse [sic] of the … tenement 1591 St. A. B. Ct. 31 Dec.
Peat steanis 1617 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 233.
For penting of the … peit steanis of his hous 1622 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 147.
To the querriouris and horsemen for leading and winning of xlii peit stanes Ib. 148.
Peit stanes to the abbay for to be coostis and pend to my Lord Maris oven 1636 Kirkcaldy Presb. 102.
For … stanes to be … peatstanes to the high chalmer 1639 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 404.
Peitstanes at iii s. the peice 1694 Elgin Rec. II. 409.
And hewen peatt stons on the gabills