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.
Plain, Plane, v. Also: plaine, playn(e. [e.m.E. and ME. plaine, playne (1297), pleyne, pleine (1297), OF. plaign-, plaindre, whence Plenȝe, Plene and Plainȝe. In Sc. appar. adopted f. e.m.E. in late texts in place of these other forms.] To complain.In various applications. a. intr. and refl. b. trans.a. (1) ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) ii. 2616.
Schir we ar cumin to ȝow to plane [: Marciane] Of the defoull … That we haue tholit 1599 Warrender P. II. 383.
Your cuisinge I can nocht plain on him(2) c1590 Fowler I. 72/155. Ib. 32/157.
As lowe … sighinlie did plane To sie him self and all his folkis disconfited remane 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 256.
I plaine not treuly nather thinkis ever to heve caus 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii. 32.
[He] Out of the anguisch of his hert did plaine, Ah mackles dame [etc.]refl. 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii. 421.
Him playning thus with melancholiows minde The thund'rer heard(3) c1590 Fowler I. 131/132.
Beholde the man … that plaind [It. pianse] both night and day c1590 J. Stewart 66/42.
Quhan ane troup of porcks … plains and qnhryns vith pitius bruitb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 31.
Few birdis herd I sing Thai haif moir caus to weip and plane thair sorrow —1634 Fugitive Poetry ii. ix. 3/22.
The monsters of the mayne In silent tumblings seem'd some losse to playne 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 140.
I would not have plained the moneyes if the hors had been as good as he was lyk to have bein
