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.
Pew, n.2 Also: piew, pieu; peugh. [e.m.E. and ME. puwe (Piers Plowman), pewe, pywe, pue (15th c.), OF. puye, puie, poye, parapet, balustrade, balcony, whence also 16th c. Du. dial. puye, puyde, pulpit, rostrum, etc., also OF. pui, poi, puz, pou, peu (mod. F. puy) hill, hillock, L. sing. podium. ‘The phonological relation of ME. puwe, etc. to OF. puye, puie offers difficulties’ (OED.).] A pew. Also attrib. with -dask and -male, and comb. with -ways. —a1680 Blair Autob. 61.
His lordship remembering that his pew joined to the upper end of the table 1671 Cramond Ch. Grange 31.
Peughes 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III. 11 April.
The lady Cramond who is one of her sones tutors haveing … altered her sones seatt in the kirk from tuo desks to a piew … she thought since none of the heretors wer prejudged by that alteration their consent was not required thairto 1688–1712 Inverness Kirk S. 2.
Pieusattrib. 1680 Kingarth Par. Rec. 124.
and comb. That evry seat to be set up be made pew-ways 1692 Conv. Burghs IV. 661.
That ther ministers locall stipend … is payed by taxatione and pew mailles 1700 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 326.
Befor the pew dask … possest be John Johnston
