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.
Piet, Pyet, -ot(t, n. Also: -ote, -at, -it and ? Poyit. [ME. piot (Ancr. R., MS. C), thereafter appar. only Sc. and north. Eng. Cf. F. piette the dipper, dimin. of pie Py n.1 Cf. also Piet a.] The magpie.To play the pyet, to thieve.Also in proverb. and allusive use.Also attrib. and comb.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 5085.
Ane stain-bow … Quhair-with he birdis and pyets slew c1450-2 Howlat 176 (A).
Pyotis a1500 Seven S. 1887, etc. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 16 (M).
The pyat withe the pairtie [v.r. pretty] cote Feynȝeis to sing the nychtingale note Ib. xxxiii. 83. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 927.
Pyote 1549 Compl. 39/23.
The tuechitis cryit theuis nek quhen the piettis clattrit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3294.
That we wald baith be spyit be the pyot [: not] 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 52.
The pyet pyke thy ene on gallous set 1581 Treas. Acc. MS. 55 (2) b.
To ane man that brocht his grace pyet … to Dalkeyth 1596 Misc. Spald. C. I. 100.
Ane ewill spreit in lyiknes of ane pyit a1605 Montg. Son. v. 10.
The pratling pyet matchis with the Musis Id. Misc. P. xviii. 67.
They wer beuryde … throu pearking of a pyet 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 356.
That na tennent … suffer nather ruck, hoddit craw nor pyatis to big nor clek in thair rowmes 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 121.
Piot 1684 Law Memor. 230. 1690 Foulis Acc. Bk. 125.
Pouder and … lead to the gardner for shooting birds and pyot(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2026.
Mony seruandis now preuelie playis the pyet [: quyet = quiet]proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 424.
For somthing the pyet peiped 1701 Fugitive Poetry II. xlv. 3/55.
He's party coloured lyke a pyetattrib. 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 89.
and comb. Her pyat toung, hir poet toung I suld say, Micht suffice weill to preiche in barne or byre 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 81.
Quhen ȝe ȝourselfis ar daft and ȝoung And hes nocht but ane pyat toung —a1651 Calderwood VII. 393.
A pyet nest 1663 Melrose Reg. Rec. II. 61.
b. As a surname or nickname, see also Black Surnames. —1381 Exch. R. III. 82.
Et Willelmo Pyote serviente in castro de Edynburgh pro servicio suo de anno hujus compoti v li. 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 372.
Archie Crosar callit the pyott
