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.
Palliat, v. and p.p. Also: -ate. [e.m.E. palliate, pallyate (a 1548), L. palliātus ppl. a. cloaked, f. palli-um cloak.] tr. a. To ‘cloak’, conceal, disguise. b. To extenuate (some heinous offence) by specious excuses. Also absol. or intr. c. p.p. and ppl. a. Concealed, hidden; (interposed) as a ‘cloak’ or ‘front’ or surreptitious agent.a., b. (1) 1638 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 286.
Both to palliat thair past malversationes and appropriat to thame selffes onlie the whole reveneus 1680 Argyll Justic. Rec. 114.
And to palliat your villany ye … did hyde the samen cow(2) a1658 Durham Subtile Self 52.
It will labour to palliat and honest it with the specious pretext of vertue 1672 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 89.
So that it could be a warrand to them … now to palliat so henious a murder(3) intr. 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 137.
The ȝeire … brought furthe muche jelosie of the Englishe aganist ther king … bot he palliat with the wysest of them and scorned the restc. a1650 Row 242.
That was still the cloak under whilk was palliat all the wicked plotts aganis the Kirk of God 1661 Fugitive Poetry II. xxxii. i i. 20.
The cloak … which hath palliate our state Once open thou … and all the mysteries Of state discover and iniquities if any be 1681 in Fountainhall Decis. I. 134.
Collectors … of customs should neither by themselves nor by palliate interposed persons carry on a trade
