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.
(Pledar,) -our, Pleidar, n. Also: pleyd-, plead- and -er. [ME. pleder (Wyclif), -our (Gower), earlier playdur (c 1275), also playtour (1303), -er, pletour, -ar (15th c.), pleater (1545), OF. plaideor (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), F. plaideur, agent n. f. OF. plaidier, plaider Plede v. See also Plaidoier.] a. ? Used as adj. = ? Eloquent. b. A pleader; an advocate of a point of view; an advocate in a law-court; an intercessor. c. A litigant. —a. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2511.
The Bauderane, courtes and pledour [F. Li Baudrains fu courtois et moult bel parleour] —b. a1561 Norvell Meroure 15 b.
He is our pleader for vs in to the lawes That venqueist Satan 1562-3 Winȝet I. 61/20.
The erroneous … pleidaris quha … ithanlie labouris to subuert the sillie semple anis 1672 Mackenzie Pleadings 7.
A short pleader may … wrong his client —c. 1622-6 Bisset I. 226/27.
Anent theme that ar nocht temerarious pleyderis Ib. 226/29.
Pleydaris Urquhart Rabelais i. xx. 89.
Pleaders are miserable; for sooner shall they attain to the end of their lives then to the final decision of their pretended rights
