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.
Pleven, n. and a. Also: plewan, -and; plaven. [ME. and e.m.E. plevyne pledge, assurance, warrant (a 1400), AF. and OF. plevine a pledge (12th c. in Godef.), med. L. plevina, f. plevire, F. plevir, to warrant. Of the same ultimate origin as Plege n.] Guaranteed (good) quality; fixed standard. Cf. MF. pleuvir une marchandise bonne = to guarantee that a commodity is good (Wartburg). Applied to armour, = proof (see Plane attrib.). —n. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 14730.
Ane actoun … made of plewan and assyse Off sarray silk plett full of vlypyis —adj. 1535 Stewart 4677.
And pleven plait with mony riall rufe With courtlie cast of cot-armour abufe Ib. 12551.
And pansis proude of plaven plait of pryde Ib. 28691. 1536 Linlithgow B. Ct. 6 Oct.
It is statut and ordanit that nane pect of atis be sauld derrar thane v d. of plewand corne and that wther small corne be sauld for iiij d. the pect 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 267.
xviij vnces weycht of guid fyne and plewan [pr. pleway] breid of quhit for tua penneis
