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.
Quotation dates: 1438-1607
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Plum(m)et, -at, n. Also: plwm(m)-, plumb-, plomand -ett, -it; plemat (? irregular or ? erroneous form). [ME. and e.m.E. plomet (Wyclif), -ette (Caxton), plommet (1483), plummet(te (1494), ball of lead used for various purposes, OF. plommet, plombet, plummet, ball of lead, dimin. of plomb lead.]
1. Only Sc.: The pommel or knob on the hilt of a sword.‘Sometimes weighted with lead’ (OED.).For further examples, see Hilt n.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 4625.
With the plummettis of swordis bricht Thay strake vther c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 77.
Off topastone him thocht the plumat was 1513 Doug. xii. xii. 97.
Quhen that he saw hys rycht hand wapynles And persauyt the plummet was onknaw 1533 Boece iii. xix. 118.
Ane swerde having plwmet and hiltis of gold 1533 Ib. xiii. vii. 512.
Plwmmett 1548 Perth Hammermen 65. 1576 Inverness Rec. I. 252.
Plwmet 1584 Edinb. Hammermen III. 34 b.
In taking of the irne to mak plummettis of 1597 Criminal Trials II. 21.
Slauchter of … his sone … be the straik of the plwmet of his sword vnder the vayne organe(b) 1535 Stewart 44441.
Ane sword … With hilt and plumbet all of massie gold 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV. 205.
With the plumbattis or gairdis of ane of thair swerdis 1607 Ib. VII 418.
Plumbat(c) 1503 Treasurer's Accounts II. 205.
For grathing of ane ald suord of honour with new hilt and plomet [etc.] 1507 Ib. III. 396.
For ane towk with thre eggyis with hilt and plomit gilt(d)1533 Treasurer's Accounts VI. 88.
For hiltis, plemattis [etc.] … and veluot to the grathing of the Kingis suerdis
2. Only (once) in Nisbet, after Purvey: A sounding-lead.c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxvii. 28.
Thai kest doun a plummet and fand xx paces of deepnes
