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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.

Playing, vbl. n. Also: playand, pla-, pley- and -inge, -yng; -aing; -ine; (Ploying). [ME. and e.m.E. pleyȝyng (a 1310), playing (c 1320), pleyeng (c 1420), f. Play v.¹]

1. The action of playing, in various senses of Play v.¹a. The action of ‘working’ the wort, Play v.¹ 3. — 1669 Alyth Par. Ch. 116.
[Delated] for playing of woort upon the Sabbath

b. Firing of guns; bombardment. Cf. Play v.¹ 4. — 1614 Melrose P. 151.
Our vther dayis playing had discouerit the yrine yett and made ane way for ane assault

c. Recreation, diversion; jollity; exercise; playing games; sport. Also (once) plur. Cf. Play v.¹ 8.Also, once, with reflex. pron. obj.(1) 1375 Barb. vii. 503.
That … the king … went to hunt and to playing a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 59.
Vtheris to playine ȝed ?1438 Alex. ii. 5076.
Left thay na kin thing Of thare gamyng and thare playing 1456 Hay II. 99/5.
Quhen a king fyndis ony mysgovernaunce in his … houshalde he suld ger inquere gyf it be done in playing or disporting or othir wayis in lychtly contempt of ony persone [etc.] a1538 Abell 29 a.
For he gaif him all to lichorie, to karalyne and dansing, singing and playing 1549 Banff Ann. I. 26.
Be inordinatt playing with hand ball and fuit ball 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 105.
Thair wes masry and playing in all sortis befoir supper 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 265.
All catchpulling, rolling, playing [etc.] … in tyme of sermoun on Sonday 1603 Moysie 113.
Dancing and playing [were] vsit in all pairtes as gif the pepill had bein daft for mirthe 1625 Aberd. B. Rec. III. .
In that some of thame uses … playing in the linkes 1640 Dunferm. Ann. 306.
All persons to leave of thair feastening, playing, ryotous and wild living on Yulle dayplur. 1456 Hay I. 300/30.
It efferis wele till a king … to be wele mesurit … in … his playingis and disportis(2) 1624 Elgin Rec. II. 184.
Ther falt of … lauching and playing them the last Sabothe

d. ? Sporting with, or ? handling, amorously. Cf. Play v¹ 9 and 10. 1567 G. Ball. 205.
The blind bischop he culd nocht preiche For playing with the lassis

e. Fencing, sword-play. Cf. Play v.¹ 14. Also playingsword, see 2 a below. — 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 322.
Because the king schure his jak in playaing

f. The action of wagering (an object); gambling, gaming. Cf. Play v.¹ 15. — 1572–3 Elgin Rec. I. 136.
Payt … to William Hardeis wyff for playing aill quhilk he tint at the bylis — c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 96 b/37.
It is ane vice Till vse playing for cuvatyce 1588 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. 214/25.
To vse deceate at plainge and … to … fal in stryue at playinge

g. Taking part in (at) a game; also, ? gambling on its outcome. c1420 Ratis R. 1248.
With playing at the dyce 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 81. a1578 Pitsc. I. 348/27.
To spend the teindis … on … wantoun playing at cairttis and dice 1581 Treas. Acc. MS. 71² b. 1596 Elgin Rec. II. 46.
To … [the] keipare of his hienes cachpell; for ballis furnessit to his maiestie in playing at the samin 1610 S. Leith Rec. 8/2.
Thair sall be na public playing suffred on the Sabbath dayes as playing at … archerie, gowfe, etc. 1620 Perth Kirk S. in Chron. Perth 84.
Accused for profaning the Sabbath in playing at the leads 1634 Aberd. Trades 218. 1647 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 27 (see Kyp(e n.).(b) 1640 Mouswald Kirk S. 1 July.
Pleying at nyne hollis, pennie stane or any such lyk idle pastymes

h. Performing on a musical instrument. Cf. Play v.¹ 17. i. Playing (on, upon an instrument) (f. Play v.¹ 18).h. a1500 Peblis to Play 222.
Thy pyper said now I begin To tyre for playing to [ȝow] 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 314.
To the baxtaris tabernar for playing at the drawing of the gret schip 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 176.
To pas furth … to … Ingland [and] France … that he may … get better eruditioun in mvsik and playing nor he hes a1578 Pitsc. I. 381/4. 1606 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 22.
To John Coilȝear minstrall for wairning and playing to the nightbours to mend the gait 1624 Peebles B. Rec. I. 413.
For playing and stryking of the swychi. 1565 Mill Mediæv. Plays 153.
That nane … mak ony conventioune with taburne plaing on pype [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 163/7.
He delyttit mair in singing and playing wpoun instrumentis

j. Presenting (a performance); acting. Cf. Play v.¹ 20. —1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 283 (see Play n. 9). a1578 Pitsc. I. 379.

k. Playing (a part). Cf. Play v.¹ 21 c. — a1568 Bann. MS. 124 a/heading.
Being in ward for playing of the loun 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 70.
Mening not to faill in playing hir part

2. attrib. and comb.

a. Playing sword, a sword for fencing or jousting. Cf. 1 e above. — 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 177.
Til ane oder man that brocht the king ij playmg swordis

b. Cf. Play v.¹ 12. — c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 4326.
Tharefore I send thé here a playing [v.r. playand] ball And ane golf staff to driff the ball with all 1699 Edinb. Test. LXXX. 372 b.
Ane pair of playing boulls — 1586 Edinb. Test. XV. 188.
Ane dosane of playing cartis price xij s. 1606 Edinb. Bibliog. Soc. Publ. I. 3 (see Plat n.³ 1).

c. Cf. 1 f and g above. — 1597 Bk. Rates 11 b.
Tabillis callit playing tabillis of iver bane

d. Cf. 1 h above. — 15.. Clar. v. 809.
If I told … of thair diverse playing instruments

e. Cf. 1 c and 1 j above, also Play-feld(e n. — 1513 Doug. v. vi. 6.
A playng place was markyt on the grond Syk as that clepyt beyn a theatry 1533 Bell. Livy I. 83/21. 1540 Lynd. Sat. Procl. 13.
We sall be sene in till our playing place In gude array abowt the hour of sevin 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II.. 195. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 42/1 (see Play v.¹ 21 b). 1573 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 9 Mar.
The ȝoung men of this burgh … to mak ane playing place 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII. 162/2 (see Play-day n. c). 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 60.
The mure benorth the gallowis to be ane playing place for the students in the college 1608 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 296.
In saying: God nor he be brunt in the playing place as Mergrat Park wes