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.
Pile, Pyle, v. [ME. (Manning) and late ME. (c 1450) pīle beside ME. and e.m.E. pĭlen (Ancr. R.), pille, OE. pilian. Cf. Pele v.1, Pill v.] a. To pillage (a country), cf. Pele v.1 1. b. To cut off (the leaves of corn); to bare (land) by stripping of vegetation. = Pele v.1 3. c. ? To strip, peel off. d. To unpack. = Pele v.1 5.a. c1590 Fowler II. 77/10.
That province … is not so subiectly to be impovereshed and piled be the officers [etc.]b. 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 96.
I haue bene pyling the bledis of the corne —1666 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS. 8 Jan.
They will appoynt some of thair nomber to pyle the mossec. 1692 Edinb. B. Rec. XII. 101.
A great pairt of the west side of the north pillar of the bridge of Leith is piled and caried away by the said spated. 1503 Acts and Constit. Scotl. (1566) c. 119 (Jam. (1825) s.v. Peile).
And that nane pak nor pile in Leith [etc.] … vnder the pane of the escheting of the gudis … that beis tappit, sauld, pakkit or pilit 1562 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 28.
Because uthers of the saids landwart flesheors … , they beand vnfriemen, pakes piles and gatheres skines and hydes
