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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.

Play-feld(e, -field, n. Also: -feyld; -field. (Play n. and Feld(e n. Only Sc. till 1883.] An open space set aside and, sometimes, prepared for public festivities, spectacles or performances.Sometimes written as two words. 1600 Charter to James Monypenny of the two mills of Crail 30 Oct.].
[Inter teatrum seu aggerem australem campi ludorii 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 196.
Ane hundreth merkis … to complete the play field now biggand in the Grenesid c 1567 Thomson Hist. Dundee App. ix.
The comoun play feild with the boundis thairof limitat as fol lows a1568 Bann. MS. 164 a/heading.
Heir begynnis the proclamatioun [MS. plo-] of the play … in the playfeild 1578 Reg. Great S. 767/2.
Peciam terre vocatam the auldplay-field jacentem prope castrum de Striviling 1588 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 532.
Discharget of ony teilling and ryving of ony pairt of the playfeyld 1589–90 Ib. V. 16.
To caus repair the gaitt at the playfeyld passand to Leyth that na hors pas that way 1598–9 Ib. 243.
The laich gaitt … abone the playfeyld 1606 Ib. VI. 19.
To caus repair the peice commoun mure … to be ane playfeild to the toun 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS. 17 Mar. 1635 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 75.
For sameikle as a greate pairt of the playfeild belongeing to the toune whair comedies were wont to be actit … is spoilled [etc.] 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII. 258.
She declares these three to have been at the playfield off Forfar danceing