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.

Place, n. Also: plas(e, plass(e, plaz, plac, plache, palace, plaic(e, plais, play(i)s, plaas, (plaaeis), plece, ples, pleec, pleice, pleise, pleac(e, pleas(e. Plur. placis etc. and uninfl. place. [ME. and e.m.E. place (Ancr. R.), plas, plaas (14th c.), plays (15th c.), F. place (11th c.), med. L. placia.ONorthumb. plæce, plætse (L. platea) appar. did not survive into ME.]

1. Material space, room, ground.Used without article, only in phrases with to win, leve, sit, mak etc.(1) 1375 Barb. xii. 563.
Thai wan plas ay mair & mair On thair fais Ib. xiii. 271.
His fais presit so fast … That thai left place ay mar & mar ?1438 Alex. ii. 9311.
Quhen Cassamus recouered place And his men … That to thare dykes had dungin bene a1578 Pitsc. I. 51/30.
It was expedient for them to gif place and leif the furie of thair enemeis(2) 1513 Doug. xii. xii. 58.
That … euery wight Abasyt gevys thame [bulls] place so brym tha fight 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 58.
Command givin to the key maister [in Campvere] to mak place to oure schippis … and als to se the schoir be weill ordorit 1596 Dalr. I. 188/25.
King Crathlinthie … gaue thame place in the Ile of Man, expelling the druides 1612 Conv. Burghs II. 363.

b. fig. To give, mak place, to give ground, give way; also, to surrender, cede (to an adversary or a successor). 1513 Doug. v. iv. 118.
Syne Gyas schyp … gave hym place [L. cedit] allswa For scho was spulȝeyt of hir sterisman 1531 Bell. Boece I. 171.
Nane of the armyis appering to geif place to other 1533 Boece viii. viii. 267.
Scottis … wery and amaist ayndles, gaif place to inemyis [L. hostibus cessere] 1596 Dalr. I. 125/8.
That nocht evin in this mater we lychtlie giue place to the Frenche men, Italianis [etc.] Ib. 134/28.
That he wil renunce al gouerneng baith for his alde age and to gyue place to the lawful ȝouth quha rycht be lyne was sproung of the kingis blude 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 249.
Who raigning successively and dying chyldles made place to the lyne of Margaret his eldest sister

2. A place, in the most general sense of this word: a particular part of space, a particular geographical situation, area, locality or spot.Also plur. without inflection (see b) and with plur. inflection in sing. use.See also laich place, Laich a. 3 d.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xii. 293.
In myd place … Be-twene the angelis & the mene Ib. xxvii. 516.
Blissit be this place [island of Iona] c1420 Wynt. i. 106.
Paradys, A propyr place 1429–30 Acts II. 18/1.
That quha sa wil fals a dome sal nocht remufe oute of the place that he standis in quhen the dome is gevin 1458 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 329.
In quhat place of the kirk it plesis thaim to ly 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 245.
Wrettin day and plac forsad a1500 Seven S. 2067.
That ill mixture … mycht nocht drop in to na place Bot on the pyot c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxix. 43.
Wirk for the place of paradyce 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 75.
Thar … Is the richt place and sted for ȝour cite Ib. xi. i. 24.
Hys fyne hawbryk … persit into twys sax placis 1521 Grant Chart. 67.
Ȝeir, day and place abufe writtin 1545 Chart. Coupar A. II. 197.
Our … bailȝe … to give saysing … as we war thair in present place our selffis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 157.
And how mony distinct partis or placis thair is of hel 1557 Admir. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 9.
[The process] is alluterlie inept, nocht contenand ony certane place of comperance a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 123/14.
That his preciouse bodye is nocht astrickit to ony ane place 1562-3 Winȝet II. 74/5.
Euery ane in thair tymes and places 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 215.
The said Gelis … is notable knawyn to have beyn suspect and in suspect placis wyth syndry men c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii. 30.
Nowthair in patent nor in to priuie place 1567 G. Ball. 41.
This cairfull place [sc. Hell] 15.. Black Bk. Taymouth 171.
The hevinlie place 1596 Dalr. I. 47/23.
In this cuntrey na rattoune is bred or, brocht in frome ony vthir place, thair may lyue 1671 Cramond Kirk S. II.
The report being that shee was sick some place near Edinburgh(b) 1375 Barb. xiv. 118.
He his viage soyne has tane And straucht toward the plas is gane 1402 Reg. Panmure II. 184.
Five markks worth of land in competente plase c1420 Wynt. i. 1656 (C).
That payntit figoure … In publice plasse he set up syne Ib. v. 3875.
The byschape … Askyd quhy he bad thar … Haldand wythin the qwere that plas That newyr to that state ordanyd was c 1420 Liber Calchou 449.
For that plas is stoppit that it [the heart] may nocht out it [venom](c) 1397 Douglas Chart. 39.
The day and plays forenemyt ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) i. 2143.
Him semit weill ane man to be That cummin was of ane felloun plais 1471 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 527.
Day and plaic befor wreiten 1523 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 68.
Wythin the hows nor in na othir plais 1546 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 145.
Daye yeir tyme and playis abwine wrytin a1500 Henr. III. 135/20.
Quhen evir I pleis quhat tyme quhat plais or quhair 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 17.
Being set in ane law plaice and a verray marische c1580-90 Rules of Health.
Contene ȝour self in sum warme plaice 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 387.
To intertynnie the said plaice of the schore void and cleane 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 387.
On both the saids watteris alsweill … as other commodious plaices neir unto salmond fishing 1668 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i. 9.
Jonet Allan entered to penance upon the public plaice in sackcloith(d) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 137.
Gif he be first convickit or confessyt in court ony kind of metall in sic palace til haf fundyn or resawyt(e) 1685 Dunlop P. III. 15.
The Speanisch toun … which is from this pleac 6 myells of sea and 6 of land Ib. 16.
To the pleec wher they will miet with follk to carie it to ther frinds relations(2) infl. as sing. 1391 Lennox Mun. 44.
That the said Erle of Fife sal mary ane of the dochteris of the said erllez of the Leuenax … in convenable placez, but disparaging of hir a1500 Henr. III. 148/60.
The cherite of His godhede Was plane in euery placis [: casis, gracis]

b. In the phrases, in the, this, that place (= there), upon the place (= on the spot, in situ), in (at) all placis, place (= everywhere, also, always), in mony placis, place, in sindry place, fra place to place.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi. 418.
With a knyff Richt in that place [he] hym reft the liff c1450-2 Howlat 520.
I sal devoid thé of det Or de in the place a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1112. a1500 Rauf C. 333.
Als sone as Schir Rolland saw it was the king He kneillit doun in the place c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 356.
To leif him lyand in the place c1552 Id. Mon. 5599.
Quhare euer the body buryet wase All salbe fundyng in that plase 1686 Dunlop P. III. 22.
If He haf ani serfis for your [sic in pr.] in that ples I desayer to yeld to Him(2) 1658 R. Moray Lett. 10 Jan.
I cannot exactly tell. you what difference may be in buying firres upon the place in Scotland or Norway(3) a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 50.
God dois honour till lawlynas Quhen prid is pwnyst in all plas 1490 Irland Mir. I. 32/12.
Thocht He be present in all place ȝit maist propirly He is in hevin — 1521–2 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 63.
That everilk man mak his hedrowme at all plasis abowt the towne quhar neid is 1546 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 145.
To be his gud frend in all plasis(4) a1500 Seven S. 2451.
Oft tymes … men has lyke till vther bene And tane for vther in mony place c1500-c1512 Dunb. lx. 76.
Efter danger cumis grace As hes bein herd in mony plece(5) ?1438 Alex. i. 2096.
He was woundit in sindry place(6) ?1438 Alex. ii. 6769.
Imagery the quhilk thare was Set of gold fra place to place c1420 Wynt. ii. 1282 (C).
Fra plasse to plasse the buyl walde stere

c. Put for: Place of battle. = Bataill place n. 1375 Barb. viii. 373.
King Robert that ves hardy Abaid all still in-to the plas Till that his men left all the chas Ib. 163. Ib. xiv. 122.
The erll … Lichtit on fut with his menȝhe And apertly the plas tuk he ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) i. 1592.
The myscheif thair sa mekill was That thame behuffit to leif the plais And sped thame to ane strenth in hy

d. In the secret, quiet, litell place, ? euphemisms for: the privy, the latrine. e. One's prevy placis, one's private parts or pudenda.d. a1538 Abell 44 b.
Quhen he ȝeid to the secret place he diuidit all his inwert partis Ib. 77 b.
Quhilk wes slane in the quiet place be a tratour Inglisman callit Edrik 1683 Fawside Coal Compt 109.
For ane tree & tuo daill to the litell place 01: 11: 0e. c1600 Medical Recipes 89 b.
[In Virgo] bevar of brekin or cuttin of the bellye or thy prevye pleicis within or furth

f. The portion of space where something is, its position or situation. 1456 Hay II. 143/24.
The mouth of it [sc. the furnace of a bath] suld be frawart the place of the stove, to send the lowe fra the stove 1500 Acta Conc. II. 346.
Becaus of the perell … of this seiknes … and for distance of place 1551–2 Perth Guildry MS. 280 (15 Jan.).
viii d. les or mair conform to the boundis of place 1563 Perth B. Ct. MS. 8 b.
In respect of the langitude & farnes of place 1588 King Cat. Sig. I. vi.
Quhen it is lepe ȝeir ȝe seike the place of the moone for the 29 of Februar 1585 James VI Ess. 60.
Monosyllabis … the maist pairt of thame are indifferent and may be in short or lang place as ȝe like

3. A spot, locality or building designated or customarily used for a certain activity or purpose.With specification of the purpose either in a complement or as attribute. For definitions and further examples see Buriall place n., Clenging vbl. n., Cunȝe n., Dwelling Place n., Hanting vbl. n., Havin n.¹, Havining vbl. n., Joning vbl. n., Landing place n., Lenthing place n., Lodging vbl. n., Lug(e)in(g vbl. n., Market Place n., etc.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 551.
Thar-for werkmen … Nere it mad sa fast a place Quharein al that iugit was Sic ded to de suld in put be c1420 Wynt. v. 2704 (C).
Ilka day as he In til his chare fra his palace On his way passit to the plasse That ordanyt was for his baythynge 1527 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 155.
[To] pas to the dur of the tolbutht and plas ws and wount to sit for ministracione of justice 1549–50 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 447.
Assedatioun … of the baronye and schire of Fetterneir with the place of fisching and pertinentis of the samyn 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 187 b.
The provest … to keip the convension of burrowis in Edinburgh and the place of parliament 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 140.
To pas to the marcat croces of the burrowis … of Wigtoun, Air [etc.] … and place of proclamatioun 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 148.
The place of repentance 1597–8 Ib. 668.
For mending of … the seittis within the place of mariage 1639 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 397.
The maisteris [of the English schools] … to … receave injunctiouns … anent the place of thair duelling 1699 Penninghame Par. Rec. I. 32.
To be reproved … standing before the pulpit but not in the publict place of repentance(2) c 1420 Liber Calchou 449.
His clenging plas ?c1500 Rathen Manual 28/2.
Cursit be thai … and othir men bruke thair heretage and vynnyng placis 1533 Bell. Livy I. 83/21.
Ancus … was the first king that assignit grete boundis … to be playing places, quhilk placis war namyt circus 1596 Dalr. II. 312/7.
That excellent port and hauineng place [sc. Brest] 1614 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 235.
Chairgeing thame personalie or at thair dwelling plaaeis [sic in pr.] 1642 Reg. Great S. 383/2.
Lie heavening places de Eymouth et Coldinghame 1689 Greyfriars Interments 714.
Lam burel ples

4. A particular position or space, assigned or allowed to or customarily occupied by a person or thing. c1450-2 Howlat 681.
The pape passit till his place in his pontificale c1475 Wall. ix. 15. 1492 Myll Spect. 287/7.
Saying he wald neuer fyle the place of his fader c1500-c1512 Dunb. xviii. 54. 1524 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 220.
The vnfremen … till hald and bruik thair places and standis lymmit to thame 1567 G. Ball. 79.
To graith ane place for vs in gloir 1622-6 Bisset I. 50/6.
All his nobillis war ordoured at thair conventioun in thair awin places 1640 Sc. Eccles. Soc. I. 45.
[The laird of Edgerston requested] a place in the kirk of Jedburgh quhair he is a parochiner. The brethir gif warrant to him to keip the place quhair he used to sitt 1686 Ellon Par Rec. 145.
His place and room in the kirk … lyand betwixt his other laigh dask called Ladie Watertoune's … [and] the desk called Achredie's

b. In place, in or into a place (and cf. in the place, sense 2b), in or into the proper or expected location. 1387 Edinb Chart. 36.
The forsayde masounys sal lay in place … xii^c hewyn stanys astlayr and coynyhe a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1340.
Wynis … went full grete waill Amang the pryncis in place 1544 Maxwell Mem. I. 285.
To vyse the house within and sie … gif the geir was in place 1559 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 316.
The sklayttis tymmir and stanis … that ar in place onspoulȝet a1578 Pitsc. I. 4/17.
Bot this ignorance now cuming in plaice And oblivioun had set his fute

5. A location of indefinite position but considered appropriate for some action, a suitable place. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 525.
Thrught the which closures [in the horse] … The knyghtes … May ische in tyme & place gaynand 1409 Exch. R. IV. ccx.
He sal cum … til cunnabil place ande in sobir manere 1456 Hay II. 92/21.
A king tobe of gude eloquence … that he may be hird with all his peple in tyme and place 1461 Melville Chart. 44.
I sall mary in ony greabill place be the avyse of my saide master c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 31. 1522 Dickinson Source-bk. II. (ed. 2) 72.
For the caus … specifyit and utheris enew quhilk we sall schaw in tyme and place 1533 Boece ix. xvi. 329 b.
Euer reddy without regarde to tyme or place to wyne

6. a. A particular part or point in a piece of writing. b. A passage (of Scripture). c. Place of dout, a doubtful point.a. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1066.
Gyff I dyde as othir wrate In this plas I suld set thaire date Ib. iii. 619. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. ii. 29 marg.
And in sum place the law is callit the letter, ii. Cor. iii a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 113/28.
And in ane other place ‘ȝe sal haf the puyr with ȝow for euer’ Ib. 116/3.
For gif sa var that it [the scripture] spak in al places be ane similitude, our fayth war confundit 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 75.
The ignorance heirof causis thame collect fals conclusions of certane mankit places of the doctoris 1615 P. Gordon Pref. Brus.
It was an old tome, almost inlegeable in manie placesb. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 25.
Becaus ane place of the scripture hes a mistik sense, thairfore the vther aucht to be tane misticallie Id. Ib. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 104/31.
Quhy haue ye not cottit the places of your bybill quhair out thai ar drauin? c1590 Fowler II. 37/16.
The places impertinently broght furth of the scriptures and confusly out of the doctours for probatioun 1691 Carmyllie Kirk S. 18 Jan.
The schoolmaster read some places of scripturec. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 114/9.
For quhy the scripturis allegit be the kirk ar sa plaine and manifest … that tha leif na place of dowt … For quhat planar vordis [etc.] 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 144.
In thy cartell thow … includes … the remanent particularis, whairof everie ane is so notore that thair is left no place [T. pleas] of doubt

7. A location at which a number of people live; a general term for a town, village or the like. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 126.
The towne of Jerusaleme Quhare Pylat presydent was & had in gouernance the place 1399 Acts. I. 212/1.
Within the princepale places of thair bailleriis 1401 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) 210.
For esse of the contre and quiet of our place 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
I gert cry in diuerse placis the trewis to be kepit 1456 Hay I. 242/13.
Suppos thai stele a place [supra castellis or townis] and hald it, thai mak na were 1506 Edinb. Chart. 189.
That na strangearis … mak mercat thairof in Leith or ony vther places … quhill entre be maid thairof to our toun of Edinburgh c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 33 (B).
Into every lusty toun and place … I haif in to thy habeit maid gud cheir 1530 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 105.
Thaim that hes ben in Edinburgh or in ony uther plais quhilk is infekit vith the pestilens a1578 Pitsc. I. 146/13.
In ane place of Angus callit Feindesden 1598 Paterson Ayr & Wigt. II. 53.
[To set upon him at] the bak of Ardmellane-hill, at ane please callit Glentressik 1638 Dumbarton B. Rec. 55.
He saw nothing but … casting out of the servands of God in thir plaices 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 55.
3 cartfull of coalls to the place 03.06.0 1692 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes 19 Apr.
That ther was nawer amongst ws report her off witchcraft or yet in any wther adiacent pleses

8. A holding of land, an estate, farm or croft.Also attrib. with sched. 1398–9 Liber Melros II. 488.
My said place of Malkarston c1420 Wynt. viii. 3429.
Thare fays … thaim thare Had lwgyd in a lytill plas The Millaris Akyr it callit was 1433 Liber Coll. Glasg. 167.
Plase c1420 Bute MS. fol. 141.
That thu come … tyl a certan place that is to say maner tenement with in maynys or som certane place be name of that lordschyp 1465 Misc. Spald. C. V. 393.
At the said Thome has payit us to gersome for the saide place and take aucht mark of siluer 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 103.
[He] held him fra his aune place xv wolkis, quharthrow his cornis was unschorne 1503 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 74.
The said thrid of the tua places [supra the thrid of the tua plevis of the Ester Park and Meiklehauche] wile beir xl nolt 1510 Rec. Earld. Orkney 86.
Plaice 1565 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 597/2.
The place of the Grenesyde 1644 Edinb. Test. LXI. 2.
Within the plaice of Lesly and Maines thairoff ane gray hors 1656 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire II. 390.
The maillers … ar obliged to bring home the elding or any suche lying about the pleaceattrib. 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. 41.
Contract … anent the wedset of fyve aikeris of land lyand in the place sched of Dudope

9. The building in which a person lives, a residence, a house.Also hame place, Hame n.¹ A 1 (1) attrib. a1400 Leg. S. xl. 687.
[Their monster birth] thai [a poor couple] lefit thare & went agane to thare place a1500 Henr. Fab. 246 (Asl.).
Lat be this hole and cum vnto my place 1474 Prestwick B. Rec. 23.
A benk and ii dischburdis of his plas in Prestwik c1475 Wall. iii. 337.
Boyde and Kneland past to thar placis hayme 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 66.
Bot geiff it be ane freman to have ane meitlowme of his awin to serf himselff within his awin place 1537 Glasgow Prot. IV. 115.
Jhon Law rasavit the keiis of his place and bwtht a1540 Freiris Berw. 237 (B).
I am ȝour Symone and husband of this place 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 17.
The bigging … of the place in the kirk yaird … sumtyme pertenyng to the provest of St Gelis kirk with the curatis place adiacent thairto 1652 Edinb. Test. LXVI. 74.
My goodes houshold stuff money place and chattells

b. A large or important dwelling, a castle, mansion or palace.A castle or palace with an individual name, or a mansion named from its lands or parish, is chiefly styled the place of A. Our examples of A. place all refer to places in Fife and the south-east: cf. Mainis n. 1 b.See also Maner place, Mansioun(e place. Chef plaz (also principall place), see Chemis n.Also attrib. with ȝet.(1) 1383 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 410.
At the chef plaz of the teneindri of Lytilton c1400 Troy-bk. i. 321.
The noble king … herd one quhatkyn wyse They lordes of Grece war at hys place Ib. ii. 2477. 1456 Hay II. 28/17.
To … byg and mak reparacioun of evill biggit places c1475 Wall. viii. 498. 1490 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II. 256.
For ane hundreth sclait quhilk the place was beildit with c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 63/30.
He that … makis laubour & travall to big ane palace or ane place that he thinkis neuer to duell in a1500 Seven S. 454.
Than come the lady of the place 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1450. 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 140. 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. I. xxi.
To cary thame to my lordis [sc. the bishop's] place 1525 Craven Ch. in Orkney III. 138.
To … cause his servants withhalders of the bishop's place of Orknay to deliver the samyn freelie to [etc.] 1534 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 422.
Ane place of the west bordour callit the mote of Liddale 1543 Soc. Ant. XXX. 54.
Maister of werk of all our soverane ladies palices and places 1555 Reg. Cupar A. II. 123.
That in cace we tak ony part of the said town in our awin handis, that part to be leid apon the eist syd nyxt the place 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 260.
[Stolen] furth of my lord Halyrudhous place 1577–95 Skene Celtic Scotl. III. 429.
His principall place thair is callit the Castell of Steornoay 1603–4 Rec. Earld. Orkney 176.
In the heid court … haldin at the place in the yairdis 1651 Laing MSS. I. 270.
I haue at your prouest desuyer, to the great preiudis of this garrison, deleyed your proportion payabell to this plaas [sc. Dumbarton Castle] 1653 Retours Inq. Spec. Kirkcudbright (261).
The great ludginge or place in Dumfreis(2) ?1438 Alex. ii. 1242.
He suld aby the deid … At that bastard did to Porrus Before the place of Pontapolus 1465 Buccleuch Mun. II. 67.
At the tour and place of Cowanton 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 89.
To a sclatar for the poyntin of al the place off Stirling 1503 Ib. II. 381.
To the sclatar of Linlithqw for pointing of the place of Linlithqw 1504–5 Stewart Mem. 86.
ii^c li. … for the … distroying of his place of the Weme 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 531/2.
The keping of the tour and place of Falkland with the keping of the estir and westir woddis [etc.] 1550 Rec. Earld. Orkney 240.
Bourdis formes trestis … within the saidis plecis of Essinquye and Gramesetter Ib. 242.
The ples of Esinquye 1568 Reg. Privy S. VI. 68.
[Of the] kirk of Kirkwall and of ane pairt of the said reverend faderis place and yairdis thairof 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 57.
The Inglismen campit about the kirk of Restalrig and place therof Ib. 350.
The place of Halyrudhous 1582 Bk. Carlaverock II. 492.
My wyf to haif the place and barronies of Terreglis and Kirkgunȝeane a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 39.
In James Gordonis pleise of Creyen 1595–6 Sc. Hist. Rev. X. 301.
The inspreich … fand … in the place of Campbell 16.. Misc. Spald. C. V. 313.
The place of Cummernald 1695 Edinb. Test. LXXX. 134 b.
The furnitour in the place of Linlithgouattrib. 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 148.
Within the girnall at the place ȝett of Spott of quheit xvi bollis quheit(3) 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 155.
Quhen that the Quene of tressoun did accuse him … in Haly Rudehous place 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 198.
James Erle of Mortoun and Robert Lord Boyd … convenit in Corstorphin place 1654 Lamont Diary 82.
Att Largo Place 1663 Stitchill Baron Ct. 29.
Another barroun court holden within Stitchell Place

c. Place of wer (= war), a place of defence, a fortified place, a castle. — 1375 Barb. xiii. 405.
Bothwell … than at Ynglis mennys fay Wes and haldin as place of wer

d. A ( ? substantial) building, more generally. — 1558-66 Knox II. 64.
The mylnis and uther placeis … being cassin doun

e. With foir and bak: (Front or rear) building or part of a group of buildings. 1531 Glasgow Prot. IV. 36.
[Resigned] his bak place with yard with fre ischa and entre at ane foyr yet 1605 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 174.
George Elphinstonis foir and bak place

f. Laich, law place = Laich hous n. 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 287.
My lord past hym self and mannit the laycht place [of Fernieherst Castle] with certane Frenchte men and Scoittis men 1568 Maxwell Mem. II. 130.
Ȝour mother … to remaine in the laighe plaice and he in the touir 1587 Buccleuch MSS. 25.
A lawe place now voyde by the departure of Mr Doctor Day 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis fol. 103 b.
[To] distroye all howsis & law places amangis the saikkis of the kyrk of Turkis

10. A religious foundation.A residential community of religious persons, or the lands or property of such a community; a religious house.See Abbay n. 2, Cathedrale a. (a), Collegye n., Haly a. (3) for further examples. c 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 21.
That yhe lat hym wyt yowor entent thar of for owtyn delay sa that the place be nowt distrobelit be processe c1420 Wynt. v. 1673.
The abbot of the plas Ib. vi. 509.
Dwnkeldyne A place solempne cathedrale 1456–70 Reg. Aberbr. II. 106.
In hurt and preiudice of the place of Arbroth and ws the lardis of Meldrum a1500 Henr. Orph. 226 (Ch. & M.).
Abbotis … For euill disponyng of thair placis rent … were bitterly turment a1500 Rauf C. 968. 1481 Misc. Spald. C. II. 324.
In owr supple of owr lewynge and owr plas raparalynge and in specialle owr gretest wyndoys mendyn c1515 Asl. MS. I. 261/12.
And biggit thre placis of blak chennonis c 1531–8 Reg. Soltre 213.
The sacrister sall ryng … the bells of the place after matynis [etc.] 1540 Wigtownshire Chart. 69.
Gif it happins the saids landis is vaik in the handis of the place [sc. of Glenluce] 1561–2 Reg. Privy C. I. 202.
Knawing that nathing is mair commodious for the said hospitalitie nor the places of freris, as yit standand undemolissit, … to … uphald the saidis freris places standand in the saidis townis upon the commone gudis thairof 1570 Leslie 149.
[She] refuset … to marye ony uther bot advowit hir self to ane religious place 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 64/23.
Be almes of abbay places 1592 Acts III. 643/2.

11. In non-material sense: Position in order of relative importance or merit, social station, rank. c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 15.
Of so hie price sall nane his place posseid For he is gon the flour of cheuilrie 1513 Doug. v. ix. 92.
Nor gentill Euricion hys gloyr envyes nocht … The secund place he tuke as curtas man 1562-3 Winȝet I. 23/16.
I iugeit the teching of the ȝouthhed … to obtene the thrid principal place [in] the kirk of God a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cxi. 35.
God … May … fra thair [unworthie princes'] heicht and princelie place Giff thame ane schamefull fall 1596 Dalr. I. 54/4.
Cuper … in monesteris of meane or midway rentis it may haue the first place Ib. 116/12.
Thay quha … throuch lettiris to quhilkes thay haue applyet thair studie … obteines the place of the principal citizens 1618 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 1146.
This were a misknowing of your places 1641 Acts V. (1817) 337/1.
I & my predicessouris be indouttitlie prior to thame in richt & place of dignitie

b. absol., without specific comparison: High (social) position. — 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 430.
Nane may eitt … in the hous bot the merchantis … of the nation except any gentleman or student or ony man of plaice being … of the Scottis natioun

c. comb. in place-sillie, foolishly obsessed by notions of rank, infatuated by rank. — 1581-1623 James VI Poems II. 143/84.
Quhat a kalland is this Place sillie man

12. To have (give, take) place.a. To occupy, enjoy (to grant or admit to, or to assume) a certain position, esp. one of respect or standing: (1) in general use, (2) const. infin. or dative, = to have (etc.) entitlement, to be admitted, (3) of a procedure, an argument or a document, = to have credence or validity.Cf. sense 1.(1) a1500 Bk. Chess 2032.
In till this chekkar is als gret the space Wnoccupiit as it that thir folk has Quhen euery man has place in properte The kinrik suld our that extendand be 1542 Acts II. 413/2.
Lord Avindale … to haif vote and place in the parliament as vtheris lordis of the realme … sould haif c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 44.
I think … He suld haue place amangis the laif [of famous men] c1590 Fowler II. 23/24.
Desiring only the treuth to haif place 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 82.
Lot cut and cavill hes place in ane half dacker of hides 1600 Colville Palinode 23.
Queene Marie … caused the examplar … to be … destroyed as a thing indigne to haue place amongst the … authentick registers 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. viii. 13. 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 138.
Gif euer I had sufferit any such thoght to haue had place within my mynd 1638 Stirling B. Rec. I. 181.
That the aldest chosin baillie salhaif precedencie and place baithe of sitting, ingoing and voting before ane laitter chosin baillie 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 93.
The saidis burghes … to have place in all conventions — 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/11.
To quhois knawlege quhen the Greikis gaue place the Hebrew literis also war exornat be him a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxii. 51.
Than if hir grace givis pitie place Ineugh — 16.. Spottisw. Hist. App. in Jurid. Rev. XXIII. 160–1.
The fourth officer [sc. of State] is the Lord Secretary who … takes place of all of his rank 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 150.
[Archery] now is wearing away be degrees and the gun takeing place(2) 1496 Acta Conc. II. 19.
The saide Wilȝeam had na place til impung the sade assignacione 1538 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 13 June.
The cownsell deliveris that the fermars … sall haif na place to call for dowbill mouter 1543 Reg. Morton II. 283. 1556 Wemyss Chart. 186. 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II. 300.
That th' envy of ambitious men … sould not at lenth prevail against me, althogh it myght have place to exerce my pacience for a tyme 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 96.
Protestit the said George that he have place to persew the said Cuthbert 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 20.
It to be lesum to the said chapmen to have place to mak merchandice as ony uther cuntrey man — 1549 D. Beaton Eccles. Hist. Caithness 320.
It gevis him nay place to handle the said baillie inordourlie bot rather to haif menit his offens to the said reuerend fader 1556 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xxviii.
Attour we gaif place to the said Marioun and hir dochter to persew hir pley — 1579 Inverness B. Rec. I. 270.
He … protestis that na vther man … haif place to the said custummaris induring his lyftyme(3) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 113/31.
Ȝoure ressounis and argumentis in the contrare may na way haue place nore proced 1526–7 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 114.
And gif ony personis … gettis ony sik lettres subscrivit, his will at tha haif na place and at the lordis obey nocht to thaim 1542 Acts II. 415/2. 1565 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 627/1.
That na takkis have langar place of the said abbay 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii. 152.
Lat workes beir witnes vaine wordis sould haue na place 1584 Conv. Burghs I. 196. 1590 Ib. 321. 1622-6 Bisset I. 293/4.
Then cummis mony exceptionis that suld have place and stope the … passaige of the breve

13. An official position or employment, a situation, office or benefice; a post. Also fig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 26.
Thocht that I amang the laif Vnworthy be ane place to haue 1535 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 443.
[Because] the said Johnne was na lepir man … [he] suld have na place into the hospitale of Kincais 15.. Wyf Awcht. 109.
Quod scho, ‘Weill mot ȝe bruke the place For trewlie I will nevir excep it’ 1568–9 Reg. Privy S. VI. 105/1.
Johnne sumtym Archibischop of Sanctandrois patroun of the said New College and places thairof 1592 Reg. Morton I. 181.
Being presentit … to the place of sessioun quhilk waikis 1600-1610 Melvill 24.
Promise of the benefeit of a bursares place 1608 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 106.
That none ony waye suspect in religioun be putt in lyittes to any plaice of magistracye 1614 Dunkeld Presb. I. 259 n.
[The] intollerable corruptioun that laik persons … sowld brook the places of … ecclesiastick dignities 1619 Beale Fife Schools 155.
The love thay carie towards … thair schoolmaster in respect of the … forderance of the toun in his place and calling 1622-6 Bisset I. 110/14. 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xcvii.
The civill places and power of kirkmen declared unlaufull 1641 Acts V. 389/2.
He cannot be ane of the lordis of sessioune becaus he hes … loist his place by buying litigious landis 1644 Ib. VI. i. 860/1.
The said Earle of Calander to be lieutennent generall of all the saids forces … with power to him to … discharge the said place … as anie other … sould doe 1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 123.
That plaice as bibliothecarius [ed. bibliothecariris] within the colledge of Glasgow 1648 Ib. 149. c1650 Spalding II. 272.
Thair places of warr 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 6.
None who is without the forenamed qualificatiounes … [shall] presume to exerceise any power, place or reap any benefit thairby 1669 Beale Fife Schools 207.
The best to enjoy the plaice 1682 Lauder's Observes App. iv. 303.
And swa be obleadged to take the test or be turned out of his place 1684 S. Leith Rec. 143.
The session to deliberat whither thei will make the precentor and doctor's place in one 1696 Beale Fife Schools 231.
[The schoolmaster confessed that] his place as nottar public was a snare to him and occasioned him being late and air in ailhousesfig. 1603 Philotus 486.
Ȝour teith the peirls micht of thair place depryue

14. Place (material or non-material), function or office filled by one person or thing as substitute for another, stead.Chiefly in in (one's) place, in (one's) stead, and in (the) place of, in lieu of, instead of.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 42.
He hes nocht only slane our king bot intrusit ane young child in his place 1541 Rec. Earld. Orkney 63.
Tenantis … to remove and output and utheris in thair places to input c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4861.
Quhen ane prelate hapnith to deceace Than put ane perfyte precheour in his pleace 1661 Elgin Rec. II. 299.
She leawes a bisome in the bedd in hir place(2) 1533 Boece i. ii. 36.
This pepill vsit in place of mete bot mylk herbis and vthir sic thingis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 55/26.
Sik … damnable errouris as now regnis in the place of syncere veritie and trew Catholik religioun 1578 Waus Corr. 187.
Or ellis the foirsaid four merkland of the Camquhart maid reid to the happar in place of the stray(3) 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 116.
Our salveour spekis heir … in the personage and place of all utheris … rewlaris(4) 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 215.
The saydis Jhon and Andro Moffat … allegis tham narrest havand place of parentis of Gelis

15. a. Function, office, task (as specified in the context). 1561 Q. Kennedy in Knox VI. 157.
Because it is thocht odius that ony man suld tak the place or personage upon him to be ane accusar

b. ? ‘Room to manœuvre’, opportunity, privilege. 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II. 240.
But place of audience only granted to the Duikis grace in particuleyr a1578 Pitsc. I. 20/17.
Thair was na plaice almeist to be reconceilled with his onfreindis

c. ‘Situation’, circumstances, plight. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 151.
[For vei]ll I knaw I stand in perrellous place