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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.

Pece, Pes(e, Peic(e, Peis(e, Piece, n. Also: pec; pess(e; peyce; peiss(e, peys; piec; pies; peece; peac(e; pice; pis, piss(e; pace; peix, peax. Plur. pecis, etc., also pece, peis, etc. and peccis, peicies, peace(i)se(s, peases. [ME. and e.m.E. pece (a 1225), piece, pyece, pees (14th c.), pes (15th c.), peece, peise, peace, pease (16th c.), a piece, portion, etc., also a goblet (Piers Plowman, A), OF. pece (1241 in Godef.), piece (11th c.; mod. F. pièce), space of time, part, sample, fragment, late L. type *pettia, -ium, prob. of Gaulish origin; cf. also early med. L. pecia, also petia, -ium, piece, measure of cloth, piece of ordinance, a number of parchment leaves, head of cattle, etc., also (Eng.) a cup (1386 in du Cange).] A piece, in various senses and collocations.

I. In general senses, defined by adjectival phrases introduced by of (also with ellipsis of of).

1. a. A part separated, detached or broken off from a whole; a fragment (of something), a bit. b. A detached or detachable component part (of something).(1) c 1453–4 Coll. St. Salvator 159.
A pes off the tre of the cros 15.. Clar. iii. 1069.
He maid alse monie peices of thair theis As [etc.] 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E. 5.
He … dememberit him of ane peis of his neis 1590 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 151.
Latting the peice flesche quhilk scho bait fall in the watter 1591 Aberd. B. Rec. I. viii.
Peces 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) i.
Ane peice of ane brokin schip 1603 Crim. Trials II. 408.
Peeces a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1588.
Ye have eaten a peic of Kittie Fleichours bannok 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 235.
ii draucht of ane peace of ane peir trie 1650 Sc. Ant. IV. 29.
Piec(2) 1432 Ayr B. Ct. 12 May.
vi pesis of a bruche 1456 Hay II. 46/4.
The haubert … is maid of mony syndry pecis as of maillis 1681 Laing MSS. I. 424.
Peeces

2. An (inseparable) portion (of) a whole, marked off or regarded as distinct. Also fig. c1420 Wynt. v. 719.
His palas … welle anowrnyd was In all pesys [C. the pecis; W. poynttis] evryilkane 1505 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 346.
Apon the grund of a land and a pece of ane yarde liand [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 56/21.
A pece of an epistil 1636 Elgin Rec. I. 255.
Actit to caus calsaye that peice of the calsaye under his avin land 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 152.
When this piece cold & frosty afternoontide of my evil & rough day shall be over 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 371.
To cause lay with dailles ane peace of the printers housse to be his wark house 1675 Inverness Presb. 64.
He sent his wiffe with the child a peece of the wayfig. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 9.
He culd not creip into ony peice of grace with the quene 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 145.
Gif there be ony piece of thine heart inclined [etc.] Ib. 355.
Placed to bear a piece of charge and government 1600-1610 Melvill 29.
Bot my God gaiff me a piece of his fear

3. A piece, lump or quantity, itself regarded as a whole, (of) some specified substance, stuff or material.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 487.
In his hand a pes off brede He had 1456 Hay I. 161/17. 1506 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 248.
Ane pece of kletht of gold the lyntht of ane Flanderis ellin 1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 1 a.
iiii peis of bakin mait 1541 Treas. Acc. VII. 465.
For twa peces of hosing of stemmyng 15.. Sym & Bruder 42.
Sanct Jameis schellis And pecis of palme treis 1561 Treas. Acc. XI. 115.
xxix pece of eschin tymmar to be schaftis to … matokis 1587 Acts III. 508/2.
Quhair thay … sell thair maid steikis and peces of stuff 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Rudus, a peece of broken stane a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. 90.
A good peic [1641 peice] steill is worth a pennie 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 153.
Without reserving anie thing not so mekle as ane lik or peece of peper 1645–6 J. Hope Diary (1958) 162.
I had a peece of the aforesaid leidoare of Colone 1684 Greyfriars Interments 719.
Frised with a pies gray cloth on the newk 1692 Symson Descr. Galloway in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 79.
They take four peeces of oake [etc.](2) 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. I. xxi.
iiii pece wax 1576 Orkney Oppress. 69.
For the allegeit uptaking of ane pece see-drewin tre 1580 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 59/19.
Peace 1587–8 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 389.
Ane pec aiken plank to be the dur to the loft 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 98.
Peece 1595 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 135.
Fyve peces coper 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 126.
Peice 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 107.
Ye … sought ane peice colop 1660 Rothesay Par. Rec. 25.
A peice saw to rub to her breist 1679 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II. 253.]
[The discharge sealed also in a piece paper 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. 106.
There a piece beef, there a piece cheese lyes 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 310.
Tuo pices midlen love, 1 ps. silk creep 1683 Reid Sc. Gard'ner (1721) 10.
A piece small silk threed

4. An item or single specimen (of) a particular group or class of objects.(1) plur. (a) 1498 Acta Conc. II. 218.
xiij tyn pecys of veschell 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 65.
For iiii pecis aslar for seill and lyntaill to the tua over durris(b) 1492 Acta Conc. I. 256/2.
xviij pece of pewder weschale 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. ii.
vii peis lang werk of xl fuytis of lentht 1535–6 Ib. 139.
lx pece tabill battelling and caip battelling 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 278.
j^c viij pece hewin stane work 1555 Ib. 313.
To the greit boit to bring hame pece of hewn wark 1560–1 Glasgow Prot. II. 94.
The airschep movabile … siklyke as peice masar [etc.]sing. 1549 Compl. 151/27.
On euerye pece of his siluyr veschel 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 264.
For ane pece tre that lyis a quhort the dam 1561 Inv. Q. Mary 35.
The great pece of broderie 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 142.
Ane uther pece of auld tapestrie of the huntar of coninghis 1590–91 Crim. Trials I. ii. 218.
Anie part or peece of foule linnen cloth … as … napkin or any other thing 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 8 b.
For ane pes takell(2) (a) 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 253.
Of new tollis thre pesis weyand iiij stane and ane half 1512 Ib. IV. 304. 1537–8 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 151.
Certaine peissis of rigis of the landis foirsaidis 1605 Edinb. Test. XL. 56 b.
xiiij peices of auld knayheidis(b) 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 58.
For clengeing … of xv pece gestis 1532 Ib. 101; 1535–6 Ib. 142. 1539 Inv. Wardrobe 50.
Ten pece of auld clathis 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 278. 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 647/2. 1562 Inverness Rec. I. 81.
Ten pece of eakin cuppillis 1563–4 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun (S.R.S.) 138.
Sex pece of curtenis of lynnyng 1589 Edinb. Test. XXI. 57 b.
vj pece or pair of silk schankis 1688 Acc. of Glasshouse in North Leith in Dunbar Social Life II. 129.
For the metle of 2880 peice of chapine botles 1695 Edinb. Test. LXXX. 134.
Tuo peace of old arras hangings(3) 1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII. 124.
Gevin to him [the armourer] for grathing of the saidis xxj halkriggis, havand for the pece of grathing, xx d. 1631 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II. 133.
The said James cuttit the number of 12 sipleinis of aik … ilke pece therof furth of the overwode of Colstoun(4) c 1607–15 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 156.
The Archdeanrie is twentie sevin peise corne teind 1628 Ib. 178.
Whair the corneteynd is payit in packit guidis ilk peice corneteynd is ane barrell

II. In elliptical or absolute uses, without defining phrases with of.

5. A piece or portion in various of the above senses. a1400 Leg. S. xiii. 148.
The scharpe stanis his flesch rafe Til gret pecis one thame clafe Ib. xxii. 618.
Men mycht se … Hou the pecis … Lape togydyr & was farere Chalyce thane before 1494 Loutfut MS. 12 a.
For the maist hail armes and the maist riche ar lest of pecis & lest of colouris c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Corinth. v. 6.
Wate ye nocht that a litil sourdauche corrumpis all the gobet (or peece)? 1530 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 49.
Woun be the quareouris … xxiiii peis for muildry and vi peis of vi and v futis for lyntalis of durris [etc.] … price of the peis schort werk iiii d. and the lang werk iii d. 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 173.
Tua lang geistis [ed. gristis] … to heis peceis … to the heycht 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 7.
Ane peis to mend the myll hirst 1595 Duncan App. Etym. s.v. Cento.
A rough couering of sundry peces 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI 9 Apr.
Ane carcage … strekin to xxvi pece a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 146.
Ane peice will till ane other c 1600 Soc. Ant. XVIII. 295.
In corne teind nyne peise ilk peise calculatit to twenty pundis 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv. 304.
They observed some what (ilke piece after another) droped out of his mouth

b. In or into fragments; in or into (a specified number of) parts.Also a peisses, id.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i. 588.
Harnise [etc.] … Fruschit in pecis [w]vndir small ?1438 Alex. ii. 6681.
The folk of Grece Had hewin ȝour body all in pece c1420 Wynt. v. 1928.
Pecis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1695 (Bann.).
Peicis c1475 Wall. ii. 50.
Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle 1513 Doug. xii. xii. 114.
This … brand … in litill pecis lap 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 65.
Pecis c1575 Balfour Pract. 49.
Nor to mak claith and cut the same in pieces or in small to be sauld 1667 Lamont Diary 196.
His head was bruised in to peices(2) 1430 Raine N. Durham App. 110.
xiij akris in twa pecis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 970.
His scheild he chopit hym fra In tuenty pecis and ma 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 126.
Tua ellis … satene in thrie peisis(3) 1638 Wemyss in Sc. Diaries 122.
That sum … did rive all the service bouk a peisses

c. Be peces, in parts, little by little. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 150 b.
They lay ane lardnar in great and selles in their buiths be peces contrair the … statutes of burrowes

d. Pece and (also be, by) pece, bit by bit, little by little, gradually.Also, once, by pece and pece.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii. Prol. 21.
And pesse be pesse ay for to wryte 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 120.
Syne peis and peys the flude boldnys so fast 1533 Bell. Livy I. 131/24.
This rumoure rais pece and pece throw the ciete Ib. 252/8. 1559 Corr. M. Lorraine 427.
Siclik to occupy all uther menis rowmes pece and pece 1562-3 Winȝet II. 17/33. 1571 Ferg. Tracts 78. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 258 (W).
Peece 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 22.
Peece 1600-1610 Melvill 58.
And continowed about … twa monethe and piece and piece weir away Ib. 537.
Peice 1609 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 36 b.
Katherene … tuik the samyn in hir handis peice and peice efter vther 1671 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II. 511.]
[But piece and piece that trust has much diminished 16.. Rudiments 16 b.
By peece males or peece and peece, by litle and litle or leasurlie 1699 Forrester Bishops Claim i. 61.
Coming in paulatim postea, piece and piece and by degrees(2) c1590 Fowler I. 84/202.
Whose nurishing by peice and pece dois softlye weir away

e. Everie pece, every bit, entirely. In all peces, in ilk or every pece, throughout, everywhere. At all peces, completely, entirely; chiefly (en)armit at all peces, fully armed (cf. 1 b above).(1) c1500 Rowll Cursing 126 (M).
Richt thus of Rowlis geis Thair chaftis chowit thame euerie peis(2) c1420 Wynt. v. 719.
The byggyng … anowrnyd was In all pesys c1500 Makc. MS. xv. 9.
Behald my body in elk pace [: gays, face] Quhow it is dycht 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 79.
So thik the plantis sprang in euery peyce [: fleyce](3) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 49.
Sik a ane as he myght command at all peces(4) 15.. Clar. iii. 336.
He ischit furth … Enarmit at all peices 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 33.
With his statue … armed at all peeces 1633 Balfour Her. Tracts 107.
Robert Scot … armed at al pices

f. Of ane pece, of a single component part. 1622-6 Bisset II. 200/4.
Germannis [made] the boit of ane pece 1672 Soc. Ant. XIV. 329.
Each steppe being of one peece

g. attrib. = Consisting of small portions; that comes as small pieces. 1594 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 132.
To wair 8 gudlenis on pes or osmond iron

h. comb. in piece- (= ? in part, ? gradually) withered. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 499.
Oh that our Lord would water again … this piece-withered and dry hill

6. An individual (person, animal or article); a single item, a unit: cf. 4 above.Common in lists of itemized prices or valuations.The piece or pece(s), ilk pece, (for) each one, apiece.(1) 1482–3 Acta Conc. II. cxxiii.
Twa tupis, price of the pece v s. Ib. cxxiv.
Peace 1488 Acta Aud. 115/2.
Pes 1488 Acta Conc. I. 98/2.
Thre barellis price of the pece xx d. 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 163.
Banaris … price of ilk peys with the makin v li. 1490 Ib. 138.
Peyce 1492 Acta Conc. I. 248/2. 1539 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. v. Elphinstone v. Innes.
vj hand bowis price of the pece x s. 1582 Grant Chart. 155. 1675 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 3 Nov.
Five ky … prise of the pisse £16(2) 1484–5 Acta Conc. I. *94/2.
In Inglis Eduarde grotis four li. for xij d. the pece 1551 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I. 35. 1555 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 9.
Thre vnicornis price of the pice xxiiii s. 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 318.
[14] buist glasis of foure vnces the pece a1578 Pitsc. I. 186/15.
The bossis was of the quantatie of tuo gallouns the peace 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 120.
xiij wanscott at xxx s. the pece 1623 Dumfries Test. I a. 53.
Peace 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 273.
xii kaismentis at v footes the peace(3) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 439.
In Parise wyth the maister buriawe Abyde … And help to hang the pece for half a frank(4) 1683 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 11 Aug.
The thrid pairt of tuentie ane ell sheipe at 46 s. 8 d. the peices(5) 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 126.
23 hors schone sett on the cart hors at 4 s. peice(6) 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 23 Apr.
Personis absent … ar conwict … for aucht s. the peice 1636 Dunferm. Hammermen MS. 36.
The incomeris to pay xii d. the peice 1641–8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 12 b. 1680 Bonckle Kirk S. 58.
To tua Ingliche men 3 deyes the pice 9 li. 1699 Urie Baron Ct. 110.
Amerciats … in the soume of ten pounds the peece for killing of salmon and smoutis(7) 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 84.
For xxvj treis, ilk pece xx d. 1502 Ib. 197. 1541 Reg. Cupar A. II. 13.
Small fowlis, ilk pece four penneis 1551 Boyd Fam. P. No. 30 (5 May). 1661 Acts VII. 252/2.
Jeists of oak ilk tuentie peices tuo ounces [of silver]

III. In specialised applications, constructed both absolutely and with defining words or phrases.

7. A parcel or portion (of) land, also ground etc.(1) 1456 Liber Aberbr. II. 89.
The saide lorde of Lorne … has gyffyng … to the hous of Aberbrothoc … tua pecis of land 1493 Acta Conc. I. 304/2.
A pece of land … callit the Kirkcroft 1524 Stirling B. Rec. I. 19.
Ane pece of thair common land 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 228.
The haill … pecis of girs of the said George landis 1612 Conv. Burghs II. 346.
Skairs or pecis of land(b) 1420 Liber Calchou 447.
A pese of lande … lyand betwen ij bowrnis 1477 Ayr B. Ct. 20 May.
A pes of medow land 1505 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 20.
Ane pese of errabill land that lyis [etc.] 1510–11 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) ii.(c) 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 402.
Quhen ane pure man … hes laubourit … on ane lytill peice of ground 1638 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 571.
Thair pairt of the peic of land callit the Poldryt 1667 Rothesay B. Rec. 137.
Concerning ane peice of grund that lyis [etc.] 1688 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 334.(d) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1660.
And off land in heritage A peys till hyr and hyr lynage 1513 Doug. xii. ix. 49.
Hys fader eyrit and sew ane peys of feld 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. 174 b.
The peis of waitland set to Rankein Mvre 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 24. 1563 Rec. Earld. Orkney 118.
Peise(e) 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 73.
Ther is noght any peece of land, be it never so small, omitted 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 41.
That little peece of ground 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 65.(f) 1557 Inverness Rec. I. 16.
Ane peace of ane roud of land lyand in the est gait 1682 Lanark B. Rec. 211. 1685 Musselburgh 128.
The peace of marish ground(g) 1461 Coll. Aberd. & B. 364.
A pice of laund callit Brinthous 1566 Inchaffray Reg. 128. 1588 Maxwell Mem. II. 162.
Ane puir man … quhaa is kyndlie to ane pice of ȝour lordshippis landis(2) 1515 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 297.
Ane peis yard one the baksid 1536–7 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II. 85.
The pece land … outwith the West Poirt 1549 Banff Ann. I. 26.
Pece 1550 Glasgow Prot. I. 18.
The foir uvyr hows … with the peis waist 1553 Blackfriars Perth 231.
Anent the … rycht of thair pece grene erd Ib. 233. 1556–7 Inverness Rec. I. 4.
Ane pece land lyand in the kyrkget 1557 Ib. 9.
Peise 1568 Orig. Par. II. ii. 512.
As the said auchtant part and pace land [pr. pateland] callit John Wrichtis land lyis in lenth and braid 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 94.
Pece 1576 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 13.
Pece 1595 Banff Chart. 143.
Ane litill peice hauch … callit the Wodderhauch 1597 St. A. Kirk S. 842.
Peice 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 220.
In the peice mure be sowth the loch 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 30.
Peice c 1650 Mitchell Mem. in Sel. Biog. I. 351.
Now purposing to leave me none but my piece heritage 1651 Moray Synod 110. 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 226.
Peece 1671 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II. 511.]
[A controversy … about a piece land 1677 Elgin Rec. I. 322.
Benorth the stair of the peice land called the baikhous(b) 1602 Elgin Rec. II. 105.
They reservit a peix land to the deuill 1608 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 65.
Four aikeris of land with ane peax yaird callit the spout yaird

b. ellipt. or absol. A parcel of land, also, of fishing water; also, a district or territory. 1467 Montrose B. Ct. 18 b.
Half a net of the saide watter is sett tyl Thom Cant of the samyn pece 1535 Stewart 13045.
Ane rycht small pece that lang tyme had lyne ley 1615 Elgin Rec. II. 145.
That everie elder viseit ther peices and admonische the people 1617 Ib. 150.
The elderis to searche ther peices and sie quhat honest men hes psalme buikis 1642 Rothesay B. Rec. 946.
The four peices abone the kirk 16.. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 312.
Besyde these peeces bearing names apart, Ros goeth from the West sea to the East sea

8. A ‘piece’ of cloth; a (more or less) definite length in which cloth is made up for sale, etc. Also ellipt. or absol.But some of the following quots. may merely be further instances of 3 above.(1) 1496–7 Acta Conc. II. 53.
For the wrangus … withhalding fra him of twa pecis of quhite carsay claith 1587 Acts III. 508/1.
That the samin wark and euery peice and parcell tharof salbe als sufficient as ony vther siclyk stuff that [etc.] c 1602 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 30 b.
Sauld 9 pisis of bleche harne 1619 Edinb. Test. L. 173 b.
Fyve peis of hairsay at thriescoir ane pundis the peice 1632 Banff Ann. I. 67.
Meallie Nicoll … produceit … ane peice of reid stuff … compleining of the insufficiencie of the litting 1673 Leith Customs 69.
3 peice lincey woolsey, 02: 14: 00 1681 Blackness Customs 34 b.
Elevein peis butcloathes valu fourty six pounds Scotts Ib. 37 b.
Tua half peis bout cloath 1683 New Mills Manuf. 53.
The four piss of mixt cloath that ar redie(2) 1587 Acts III. 508/1.
To be … our sear of the saidis craftismen haill warkis steikis and peeces 1612 Halyb. 318, etc.
Linning in peces litted … Linnes blew or reid the peice 1686 New Mills Manuf. 128.
2½ ells change yearne in the latter end of the pice No. 121

9. a. A lump of flesh or meat. b. A piece of meat or of food generally; a ‘bite to eat’.a. ? 1398 Fordun (1759) II. 423.
I beer a py pykkand at ane pes 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1169.
The gled the pece claucht in his cluke 1688 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 275.
Boutcher flesh … the … rumple peeces, £00/02/4 … the … neck peeces, £00/01/2b. 1619 Simsone in Sel. Biog. I. 103.
He took a piece and blessed it a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 441.
Dicht a peiss the laird is comming Ib. No. 970.
It is evill geving a peice over a greiting bairnes heid 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 15.
The bairn that is greeting … for a piece or a drink

10. A cask (of wine, also, once, of butter); also, a certain quantity of wine.From the 1614, 1615 quotations it appears that the ‘piece’ equalled one quarter of a tun. 1581 Edinb. Test. X. 112.
Ane pece of clarat wyne in ane punscheoun of small bind price thairof x li. c 1590 Thanes of Cawdor 196.
For tua picis of butter xx s. 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII. 261 b.
In the sellar tua pece of wyne … price of the pece fillit vp wynes xxx li. 1614 Dundee Shipping L. 253.
Fowre twn thrie peiss wyne Ib. 254.
Twelff twn twa peiss ane half peis wyne … , thrie twn ane berrykan vyne … , ane twn thrie peis of wyne [etc.] ? 1615 Ib. 256.
Seven pece twnis wyne 1639 Elgin Rec. I. 263.
Agnes Andersone … receavit fra Mr. William Cowban 3 peice of Frensch vyn and fra Robert Dunbar … 2 peice of Frensch vyn 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 187.
And that tuo peece of wyne be broucht to the croce, the on claret and the vther whyte wyne 1669 Edinb. Test. LXXIII 349 b.
Standing in the cellar ane pace of Frainch wyne 1702 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 61.
For 2 pices of clarit, £120/0/0

11. Pece of wark, a specimen of workmanship, a completed product of a craftsman's work. 1473 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 27.
That all … that thinkis to be maisteris mak twa peis of wark sufficient belanging hattis-making Ib.
Ane peis of sufficient wark 16.. Crail Squaremen 25.
A brother being to take ane pice of work frae any nighbour 1633 Aberd. Trades 204.
Whasomever myndes … to be frieman … sall mak and present two pieces of work for his maisterstick 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 10.
[Assay-masters] sall still keep wp in secreit from him what is the peice of work

12. A distance, esp. a short distance; a ‘bit’. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2494.
He … walked on inwart a pece c1420 Wynt. v. 3072 (W).
Grece That is fra Rome a weill gud pece 1576 Crim. Trials I. ii. 52.
Ane lytle pece fordwerd a1578 Pitsc. I. 56/7.
Ane lyttill peace fre Kirk Patrick 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 46.
The king, quha is now a good peece distant from us 1600–1 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 108/10. 18.
He saw the Erle of Gowrie gang ane pece wp the gait 1661 Forfar Witches in Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 132.
The divell … convoyed hir a piece dating hir 1689 Soc. Ant. IV. 15.
Peace

13. A ‘head’ (of stock of various kinds).(1) 1479 Acta Conc. I. 46/1.
xxx d. for the pece of the gymmyr … and xij d. for the pece of the lammys 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 267.
viij ky eldar & ȝoungar price of the pece of the auld kow xl s. 1537 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Culros v. Crawmond.
The proffitt of ilk pece of the said ky ȝeirlie 1564 Perth B. Ct. 91 (31 May).
For ilk pice of the said mertis 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 251.
Pryce of the pece of the saidis stirkis ourheid xl s., pryce of the said kow xl s. 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 297.
Albeit ilk pece of the samin ky wes than worth ten markis(2) 1503 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 75.
The pastour of the pece of nolt vi d. 1556 Crim. Trials I. i. 390.
The pryce of … the peis of pultrie 1595 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 78 b.
The thiftius steilling … of sex pece of hors 1597 Edinb. Test. XXX. 47 b.
Four peis of hors & meiris price of the pece ourheid [£16/13/4d.] 1599 Mackintosh Mun. 53.
[For] sex scoir peces of mart cattell ky 1622 Grant Chart. 427.
Nyne peace of hors 1643 Justiciary Cases III. 599.
Nyne peace of horse foillis and staigis 1701 Argyll Justic. Rec. I. 194.
Ane large black mear … with other three pieces of horses(3) 1553 Reg. Privy C. I. 150.
Quhill thai had payit ane grott for the heid off ilk peax [of cattie] for thair poindlaw

14. A gun, fire-arm. a. An artillery piece, cannon. = c below. b. A portable gun, hand-gun.a. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 460.
To the quaryour … at makis stans to the small pecis in the bark 1541 Ib. VIII. 125.
At the quhilk melting … the pece felȝeit 1542 Ib. 127.
For the drawing of the pece cassin before the last chakar 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 249.
The northt west trencht is condamnit all except the roum that an small peice lyis in, quhilkis I trast salbe condamyt all this day 1571 Treas. Acc. XII. 275.
Bullettis and lunt to the peces of Halyrudhous 1572–3 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 160.
vj batteringe peases 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 330.
With ane Scottis peice les nor ane cannoun Ib. 331.
Tua Scottis iyrone peicies a1578 Pitsc. I. 262/11.
xxx schott of greit artaillȝe and xxx feild peaceis 1587 Dundee Treas. Acc. in Soc. Ant. II. 349.
The pissis in the stipil heid 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 52 b.
I haue agereit with Wellem Scot for hes twa peses 1624 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 159.
For carying the Dunkirkeris peices from the schip 1637 Monro Exped. ii. 215.
A huge great peece 1675 Wemyss Corr. 121 (see c below).b. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 292.
The said seruand should schote him with ane dag bot his peice faillit and misga 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 216. a 1700 Haigs of Bemersyde 477.
He tourned about the but end of his peac and struke him doune 1702 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II. 374.
The declarant defending himself with his piece

c. With various defining terms, as of artilȝerie, cannoun, found, munitioun, ordinance, qq.v. for further examples: An artillery piece. = a above. 1513–14 Sc. Ant. XII. 120.
Ane pece of gret artalȝe 1547–8 Corr. M. Lorraine 217.
And taykis certane peccis off lycht artellȝary with tham 1561 Treas. Acc. XI. 114.
Chesellis to prepair the grit pecis of found 1626 Conv. Burghs III. 237.
Tuentie aucht peace of ordinances 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 163.
Sex peice of thair cannon 1651 Ib. IV. 119.
Sex peice of yrne canone with the cariages [etc.] 1675 Wemyss Corr. 121.
Sewein peaceises of lyght ordnance comenly cald leather gwnes wedillesed fowre peaceise caring twa pwnd ball and three peaceses caringe fowre pwnd ball which sead sewene gwnes [etc.]

d. A shot from a gun. — 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 296.
Ane warning peice was shott out of the castle

15. An evidentiary document, a writ establishing a right or title. a. absol. b. Const. of evidentis, writtis.a. 1562 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 52.
[The evidents of the said tenement] extending to thre pece, viz., twa instrumentis of sesing and ane testimoniall all writtin in parchement 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. 5 b.
Ane ticket contenand everie peice producit be ather partie in the caus 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary II. 258.
The said box and haill writtis and pecis forsaids within the same 1578 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 68. 1583–4 Perth B. Ct. 17 Jan.
The … persewar tuik vp his peces and proces fra the clark and hes nocht reproducit the samin as ȝit 1588 Conv. Burghs I. 285.
The pecis thatt ȝe haif of auld of the Kingis of France concerning ȝour liberties and previlegis heir 1587-99 Hume 73/169.
Their proces will be lang in seeking out In greatest neede sum peeces will be lost 1600-1610 Melvill 5.
I … delyverit him my pices and rights of vicarage and stipend Ib. 10.
Pices 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
The inspection of pecces will finde this talke toome 1622-6 Bisset I. 168/23. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 249.
Peeces 1642 Acts Sederunt (1811) 51.
Anent keeping of peices … the saidis lordes, for redressing the complaintes against advocates for keipinge of peices, findis [etc.]b. c 1590 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 292.
Four peice of evidentis of ane annuelrent of xxx s. furth of the land of [etc.] ? 15.. Reg. Episc. Brechin. I. App. i. xii.
Resauit allevine peces writtis

16. An instance or example of a particular quality or activity.(1) 1585 Dunferm. Ann. 228.
But God … peyit that laird … his hire for that peice of service 1600-1610 Melvill 69.
Bot a piece of storie I man report 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 235.
I have adventured to offer this small peace of labour to posteritie a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 219.
And this is a main piece of the subtilty of hypocrisie(2) c1650 Spalding I. 299.
Bot befoir Forbes wes casseirit he proved truely stout in ane peice quhilk wes at Monrois command Ib. II. 394.
Hell hatchit neuer sic peices [marg. Divlish devysis] for wrak of the countrie a1651 Calderwood VII. 454.
For howbeit he was an extraordinar octarer … yit had he to doe with all his peeces

17. A production of art.a. A piece of drawing, painting or tapestry. b. A literary composition. c. An objet d'art.a. (1) a1500 K. Hart 128.
That no man micht the poynting of ane prene Repreve nor pece bot payntit at devyse 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 214.
Bocht … ane pece of Hercules … tua pecis of Susanna sewit togiddir 16.. Inv. (Lennoxlove) 65.
A lym'd peice of the devill temptinge Christe in the wilderness 1683 Inv. (Donibristle) (9–10 May) 3.
A large peece wher Moses is giveing the law to the people(2) 1683 Inv. (Donibristle) 9–10 May.
Ane peece of landskipe in a light wooden frameb. 1580 Hume Promine Epistle 33.
To tak this peice in proper patronage, ȝour prencelie prudence will me not deny 1643 Baillie II. 76.
My mind wes in adding and pairing and making readie for the presse my peice c1650 Spalding II. 224.
Thir peices ar not … coppeit being tedious 1657 Lauderdale P. I. 286.
Peece 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 189.
Leaving the censur of all such infernall peeces and ther authors to suprem authoritie 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 13.
Dr Loyd … in his late peece [etc.] c1650 Spalding II. 271.
The convoyans of this od peice hatcht and maid wp narratiue in the kingis owne namec. 1597 Edinb. Test. XXX. 53 b.
Ane pece of bras callit the lapster

18. A goblet, a more or less costly drinking-vessel, often of silver. Also drinking-, flas-, silver-pece, pece of gold or silver.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 340.
The gret noblis … had nocht thar coupis nor pesis for plesaunce 1494 Loutfut MS. 41 b.
He that drinkis of a boutaill or of a pot without pece or cop [etc.] 1495 Treas. Acc. I. 242.
For ane cais to turs the kingis pessis in 1499 Halyb. 162.
Send hym … 3 pecis with a cowir off syluer 1513 Doug. vi. iv. 27.
Otheris … The warm new blude keppit in cowp and peys 1530 Balmerino and L. Chart. ii. 31.
Pessis 1535 Stewart 56060.
With basing, lawer, disches and plaittis fyne And cowpis pecis full of riche wyne 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 312.
To Johnne Mosman for making of … ane water pot weyand xxvij unces, twa pesis witht feit weyand lxij unces 1552 Coll. St. Salvator 160.
Ane wath how peice that M. Peter had in kepe(2) 1478 Acta Aud. 83/2.
The thrid part of xj siluer peces and v gobblatis 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 355.
For a silvir pece, xxx Franch crounis 1552 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 204.
Thrie silver how pecis with ane flas peice of silver 1583 Elgin Rec. I. 172. 1588 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 123.
Piece 1594 Crim. Trials I. ii. 339.
The saidis twa drinking peceis of gold to be strukin doun and cunȝeit in fyve pund peceis 1602 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 30 a.
Ane seluer pes xxv lib. 1617 Thanes of Cawdor 241.
Three bread silver peissis with ane lid … ane chissilit peace 1619 Edinb. Test. L. 216.
Four great silwer coupis … foure les silwer peiss with coveris agriabill 1661 J. Gordon Hist. I. App. lxiii.
Ane siluer peece or cup wechtand tuentie vnce(3) 1483 Acta Conc. II. cxxvii.
A coup a cover and a pece of silver 1530 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II. 39.
A masser of siluer ourgilt, a peis of siluer, a siluer spone 1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 62 b.
Ane pece of siluer vtherwayis callit ane goblat

b. In Dundee and Edinburgh: Designating particular vessels used for collecting offerings for particular purposes in the respective burgh churches. Also attrib.In Edinburgh those for the upkeep of St. Giles Church. 1551 Old Dundee II. 41.
[The Council] ordainit that the almshouse bred gang every Sunday, and neither pece nor other bred except Our Lady breds 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 331.
Summa of the hale charge of the pece this instant yeir, extends to [£100. 14. 8½ d.] 1554 Ib. 343, 1556 Ib. 362. 1556 Ib. 240.
That Hector Blacader hes falit in the refusing … to pas with the pece to the procuratioun to Sanct Gelis werk on Palm Sonday last bypast Ib.
Quhatsumeuir … induellar … beand warnit to procure with Sanct Gelis pece and dissobeyis … to pas the nixt Sonday thairefterattrib. 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 328.
The pece silver gottin be procuratioun in the kirk

19. Pece of gold. a. In senses 3 and 4. b. spec. A (gold) coin.See also prec. sense. 1456 Hay I. 207/3.
Thare was tane fra him x^m pecis of golde 1480 Acta Conc. I. 76/1.
xx pece of gold of the … cunȝe of the Duc of Burgunȝe 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 81.
A small cors with twa pecis of gold at it 1592 Acts III. 527/1.
That the pece of gold cunȝeit … for xliiij s. sall now gif four pund the ald thre pund pece with the quenis face sex pund 1600-1610 Melvill 25.
He send me to him … with twa piece of gold in a neapkine 16.. Hist. Kennedy .
Ane peace of gold quhilk thay callit ane leigna off ane pund wechtt or thairby 1676 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 12 Jan.
Of gold intrometted with be him sevinten pieces

20. Pece of silver, a silver coin.See also sense 18. 1472 Douglas Chart. 57.
[Forcibly taken] out of his kyst … twelfe pecys of syluyr [etc.] 1569 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming MS. 116 b.
The said … balȝe … gef … possession of … the said land … be deluiring to hym ane pece of siluer 1572 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. cxlv.
That ane new pece of siluir be cunyeit … to be callit the half mark pece

21. A piece of money, a coin. a. With of money, coyne, etc. 1554 Treas. Acc. X. 263.
Silver to mak certane peces of money to be an assay of his cunigie 1554 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 76.
That ane pece off layit money be imprentit 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 282.
Some peeces of fals coyne both of silver & gold 1669 Edinb. Test. LXXIV. 8.
Ane eleiven shilling pace and tuo paces of small money 1685 Dunlop P. III. 16.
Ther is a piec of mony they call bits

b. absol.For further examples as the second element of numerous compounds designating particular coins, see the various separate entries for, e.g., babie peice, Bawbé n. b, Bonet-pece n., hat-pece, Hat n. 3, lyoun pece Lio(u)n n. 2 c (2), Mark-pece n., and s.v. penny, pund, schilling, etc.1554 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 76 (see Lio(u)n n. 2 b).1574 Acts III. 92/2 (see Lio(u)n n. 2 b). c 1590 Hopetoun MS. in Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 98 (see Lio(u)n n. 2 b). 1586 Cunȝiehous Acc. MS. 8 (see Lio(u)n n. 2 c (1)). — 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 274.
Ane thre pund pece and rois noble and ane angell noble 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 136.
Quhilk money is … strekin in haill and half pecis 1578 Ib. III. 32. 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI. 214 b.
Foure peices of gold calit the kingis peices quhilkis are ane merk peices of King James the Fyftis cunȝe price of the peice iiij merkis 1597 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 71.
The unce of silver cunyeit in ten schilling peceis and uther smaller peceis of ellevin penny fyne 1612 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. c.
The fyiftene sous peice … fyftene s. iiij d. 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 87.
Thrie double peices and sextene punds of whyte silver 1685 Dunlop P. III. 16.
Spanisch monny is ryefer in it then babi pisis is in Scotland 1690 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 227, etc.
A sixtie shilling Scots peace 1703 Foulis Acc. Bk. 315.
5 croun Inglish peices

c. Essay- (also say-, sey-, q.v.) (= assay-, test-, trial-) pece. 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 175.
They found the saides haill essay peices to aggrie … with the severall dayes journeyes thereinmentioned

22. As the second element of compounds in other applications, see also Justing vbl. n.², the- (= thigh). 1612 Halyb. 291.
Box peces for making of keames