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.
Pillé, -ie, -y(e, n. Also: pyll-; pel- and -ey; billie. [Sc. var. of Pul(l)é n. Cf. Pillies n.] A pulley.Attrib. with -scheve (-scethe) (= pulley-sheave, the grooved roller over which the rope runs in a pulley-block. See also Pillishoe n.) and -rape.Also in fig. context.(1) 1512 Edinb. Hammermen 74.
For the mending of the pille of the lamp 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 112.
Ane pillie of ane draw well(2) 1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 258.
For … tow to the windes with the v pillies 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 223.
For clay hair wyre flokis ole and uthir necessaris debursit be Peris gunnar for casting of the saidis muldis to the pilleis 1547 Stirling B. Rec. I. 48.
That thair be maid ane standand gest … with ane pillie ane tow and ane creile and scho be put in the creile and hyng thair 1548
Aberd. B. Rec. MS. XX (Jam.).
Tua pilleis perteining to the vobsteris craft 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 79. 1558–9 Ib. 285.
For furnessing tow and pille to the monting and dismonting of the artalȝerie to the stepill 1560 Ib. II. 99.
Ane new scheif to the pillie 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 135.
Ane place maist apt … for dowkeing of the saidis fornicatouris thairin be [MS. being] ane pillie 1562–3 Treas. Acc. XI. 248.
For ane pilley … to heis ane moyane to Davidis toure heid. and for … talloun to the pilley 1576 Ib. XIII. 316.
For ane pillie with cordis to hing the regentis grace burdis with uther small thingis to thame 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 461.
For ane grit yrne pillye & schaif of yrne to hing on the well 1599 Ib. 712.
To thrie pynnouris that helpit to hing ane cradill fra abone the hicht of the stepill be ane pillie for mending the cunȝie stane 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 233.
For ane schéathe and pillie for the windowis for harline the wall 1649 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 184.
Maid with ane pillie or block or some such thing 1685 Lauder Notices Affairs II. 652.
Being hoized up in a pilly and hanged a whille he was let doune(3) 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 223.
Thame that wrocht apoun the muyldis of certane pylleis of bras for the kingis grace new schippis 1547–8 Ib. IX. 164.attrib. (1) 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 207.
For ane new pille scheif … contenand xiii pund wecht of brass 1538 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 20 May.
A pelie schif 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 169.
Pillie schevis —1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 258.
For viii pille schethis to the gret and small windes(2) 1580 Edinb. Test. MS. VIII. 241.
Ane billie raip1581 Burne Disput. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 148/10.
fig. The Cauuinist … vil afferme … that ve be certane pilleis or ingeynis ar liftit vp to heauin
