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: 1562, 1673-1691
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Pile-, Pyl(e)-, Pylling, vbl. n. Also: -yng, -one. [e.m.E. and late ME. pylyng, -ing (north., c 1440), f. pile v. (cf. Py v.1] The action of setting up or driving in stakes. a. For a fish-trap. b. In order to delimit the boundaries of mineral workings: see SND, s.v. Pile v.1 Also attrib. with -aill in sense b. —a. 1562 Protocol Book of J. Drummond 10.
He was in possession of the fisching vpone Tay be vertu of ane lettre of tak … be pyling halying and drawing —b. 1673 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 15 Nov.
Major Biger, bailȝie Scot & otheris visiting & pyling the ground 1678 Ib.
For the expensis in pyllyng the controverted marchies betwixt Jhone Braces & Wolmet 1679 Ib. 22 Nov.
For pylling Major Biggers marches a gallone of ale 1683 Fawside Coal Compt 107.
For pylling the mynd, 00, 12, 0 — 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 54.
For pylling to the mind, 00: 12: 0 —attrib. 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 59.
For pyleing aill & candell 1681 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 5 Feb.
Pyllone ale 1691 Ib.
For a gallon of pileing aile
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"Pylling vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pylling>
