Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Penny-, Penni(e-brydal(l, -el(l, n. Also: penney-, peny-, penie- and -brydail(l, -il(l, -iall, -le, (-ol); -bridal(l, -el, -il, -le; -bryddel; -brythell, -brithel, -brethel. [Penny n. and Brydal(e n. Only Sc.] A wedding at which each guest contributed a sum of money towards the cost of the entertainment.See also Brydal(e n. 1 and 2 a, Lawing n. 3 and Pennywedding n.(a) 1599 Stirling Kirk S. in Misc. Maitl. C. I. 132.
That thair be na mariage maid in this kirk, (quha hes penny brydellis,) quhill thair be first consignit x li. and certificatione gevin 1601 Ellon Presb. 33. 1606 Aberd. Presb. in Dalyell Darker Superst. 293. 1617 Acts IV. 538/1.
In respect of the … intolerable abominations that falls out at the penny brydellis 1618 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 237.
That peny brydallis be for vj s. viij d. for ilk persone 1627 Cramond Ch. Bellie 3.
[Censured] for making ane pennie brydell … to his dochter in law at quhilk wer present excommunicat papists 1631 Strathbogie Presb. 4.
Penny brydals 1636 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. 171.
Such ane abuise … throw excessive giving at penny brydillis 1640 Moray Synod in Inverness Presb. 120.
By drunkennes and tuilȝieing at pennie brydalls Ib.
That thair be no pennie brydalls maid on the Sabbothe Ib. 121.
Pennie brydiall 1645 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 268.
That the pepill conveinit on bothe syds to ane penney brydall sall not exceid the number of 20 1645 S. Leith Rec. 53.
That … who are to make penny brydells sall consigne … ten pound that thair mariag dinner sall not exceed the pryce of 12 s. 1645 Kelso Presb. in Berw. Nat. C. V. 333.
That the number of persones at a penny bridall should not exceid four or five meises of people 1645 Fife Synod 142.
Pennybridles 1646 Ib. 148.
Pennibrydles 1646 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 26.
That neane hawe the libertie of penny brydels bot … seruants, hyrmen and hyrwomen [etc.] … and others of that rank 1647 Elgin Rec. II. 257.
Pennie brydaills 1647 Cupar Presb. 117.
Pennie bryddells 1648 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 154.
Peny brydels 1649 Culross 231.
Because of the great abuse at pennie brydols of gathering in numbers of people, especially work-people, from their masters' service 1649 Elgin Rec. II. 265.
Penie brydails 1655 Cupar Presb. 169.
The presbyterie being sadly weghted with the report of the continwance and exhorbitant and unnecessarly numerous confluences of people at pennie brydles 1656 Edinb. Justices Peace 410.
The makers of p[enny]-bridals are not to exceed ten shillings Scots for a man and eight shillings Scots for a woman 1658 Rothesay Par. Rec. 5.
Penny brydellis 1658 Musselburgh 115. 1661 Stitchill Baron Ct. 22. 1661 Sc. Ant. XIII. 38.
Penny bridels 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 124.
They have their penny bridiles in France 1670 Salmon Borrowstounness 92. 1672 Stirling B. Rec. II. 13.
John Inneis … to be common pyper to the said burgh … [with] the priviledge of playing to all penny brydellis 1672 Foulis Acc. Bk. 6.
Pennie brydle 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. I. 10.
Peny-bridle 1684 Law Memor. 204.(b) 1642 Lanark Presb. 29.
Penie brithels 1674 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 204.
All … penny brythells … quhairin the fidler shall be imployed(c) 1635 Boharm Kirk S. 4 Jun.
That no penny brethels be made … vnder pain of fyffe punds