Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pillow, -ou, n. Also: Pellow. [e.m.E. pillow(e, e.m.E. and ME. pilowe, pillo, ME. also pil-, pylwe, pilewe, etc., pillow, pad, pillion, etc., OE. pylu beside pyle, whence ME. pyle, pile, pele, mod. dial. pill, peel. Cf. Pillie n.²]a. A pillow. Also comb. with -beirar. = Pillow-bere n.In Knox, ? after the Geneva Bible: sowe pilloues under the arme-hoilles, to give a false sense of security. 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III. 276.
For … Melan fustian to the tua doun pillowis for the tua cradilles — 1663 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 187.
Twa pillowes and pillow beirares — 1562 Knox Ressoning 189.
They be fals prophetes … that sowe pilloues under the arme-hoilles of wicked men

b. ‘The “truck” or circular piece of wood or metal fixed on the head of a pole or mast’ (OED., in which this is the only instance given). — 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv. 154.
Then hoysing him vp to the pillow or top of the tree they let the rope flee loose whence downe he falles