A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Unplain,) Un-, Wnplane, Onplayn, -plane, adj. [ME and e.m.E. unplein (Gower), vnplaine (c1530), vnplayne (1538); Plain adj.1] a. Of human attributes: Not candid or frank; devious. b. Of discourse: Not simple or straightforward, not easily comprehensible. c. Of terrain, etc.: Difficult. —a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxvi 11.
The figurit speiche, with faceis tua. The plesand toungis, with hartis unplane —b. 1535 Stewart 29343.
Thy eloquence and preching wnplane … Thy subtill sentence of ingyne so hie Transcendit far thair small capacitie —c. 1513 Doug. vi ii 112.
Al the myd way is wildirnes onplayn [Sm. wnplane, Ruddim. vnplane] Or wilsum forest 1513 Doug. ix vii 52.
This ilk wilsum perplexit way [Ruddim. vnplane] Bakwart he held … Throw the dern wod dissaitfull and onplane
