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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.

Plank, n.¹ Also: planck, plaunk. Plur. plank(k)is etc. and planx. [ME. plaunk (1294–5), plank (Manning), e.m.E. plancke, ONF. planke, L. planca. Cf. Planch n.]

1. A plank.As used in building, or as a footbridge or gangway. Also schip-, walking-plank.(1) (a) 1428 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 4.
Of the hundred plankis, viij d. 1474 Prestwick B. Rec. 23.
A poll, a plank, a benk 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 278.
Plankis and treis to the fluring of the quenis stabill 1507 Lanark B. Rec. 17.
Ane corbell tre, planx and nalis 1511 Rentale Dunkeld. 122. 1513 Doug. x. vi. 39. 1516 Treas. Acc. V. 97.
To by plankkis … for the stable 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 182.
lviii pece plankis for standand burdis in the hallis 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 353.
vj plankis to be rollaris in the schippis under the artalȝery 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 24.
To be ane plank to the myll to lay under the stane 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 26 Sept.
Of sawen planckis fyftein 1671 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 154.
Oackin plankis … for the use of the bridge 1674 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 28 Jan.
[18 s.] for ane plank of timber(b) 1506 Rentale Dunkeld. 91.
[For delivery of certain] lie speris et plaunkis 1508 Ib. 30, 1511 Ib. 36.(2) 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 119.
Schip plankis … to naill on the cannones and athort them 1664 Edinb. Test. LXXI. 253 b.
Thrie litle walking planks worth ij lib.

b. A gang-plank, hence a way ashore; fig. a means of exit or escape. 1659 Hay Diary 123.
I desired her to acquaint her father [Lord Wariston] to come off upon that plank of ther setting up tolleratioun in Scotland

c. Comb. in plank-timber, -work, and attrib. (in sense b) in plank-end, -maill (= rent or dues for having a gang-plank from ship to shore), -silver.(1) 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 210 b.
Certane aikin tymber … xiij peace of plank timber at viii li. the peace 1668 Ib. LXXIII. 199.
Of timber and plank work in his yeard(2) 1589 Dundee B. Laws 126.
The halie bluid siluer to be collected … on this side of the sea at the plank end of all guides transported … furth of this realme(3) 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 4 b.
For plank mell & shor dowes, 2 li. 5 s. Ib. 14 b.
For ankrig and planck mell 1661 Nicolson Diurnals 15 May.
To the metster [at Dunbar harbour £2. 3 s. 4 d.] … and for plank maill 6 s. Ib. 18 May.
For shore dewtie 3 lib. & for plank maill 3 s. — 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 323.
For planksilver of the haill four bottis of lyme xviii s. [carried from Leith]

2. Planks collectively, planking. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 46.
vj^m j^c xl fut of sarris pullan and plank to the … schip 1587–8 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 389.
For ane pec aiken plank to be the dur to the loft 1723 Glasgow B. Rec. V. 171.
For kaibors, spakes, dalls and plank to Peit Boag, … for wainscoat plank for the use of the High Kirk