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.

Perk-tre, n. Also: peirk- and -tree. [Cf. Perch-tre. In the mod. dial. = a garden pole, a clothes-pole.] = Perk n. in various senses. — a1400 Leg. S. xix. 216.
In-sted of staf a ployk he had Wele nere as a perktre mad [L. portansque loco baculi quandam perticam in manibus] 1548 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 259.
Perkis and perk treis 1622 Perth Kirk S. MS. 12 Aug.
Cloithis of … litstareis hingand on thair peirk tieis 1623 Ib. 7 Apr.
Hinging furth cloithis to dry wpone his perk treis 1659 Edinb. B. Rec. IX. 147.
He cannot sie at nooneday theirin when the webs ar hinging upon the trees … For remeid … the north perk tree or standard would be removed to the south of the uther twa standing trees … and the saidis litster trees to stand there dureing the Counsellis pleasure only