Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Plege, Pledge, v. [Late ME. and e.m.E. plegge (c 1450), plege (1464), pledge (Caxton), f. Pleg(e n. or OF. plegier (mod. F. pleiger) to guarantee, bail, f. pleige Pleg(e n. Cf. med. L. plegiare (France, 1191 in Du Cange).] To pledge, in various senses.a. intr. ? To become, or stand as, surety for something. (The quot. for 1557 may be a further instance of, and the quot. for 1548 erron. for, Pleg(e n. 1). b. tr. To pledge (something) as a security. c. To provide hostages for (a person) as security for his good behaviour (cf. Pleg(e n. 2). d.To toast (a person); to drink to the health of. Cf. OED. pledge intr. to drink in response to another (1546), tr. (1568). e. To assert.a. 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I. 125.
John his fader plegis for all that langis him ? 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 268.
I … hes haldin the saidis master with uder thre plegen for the ransom of the restb. 1498–9 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 92.
The sade Marione has plegitis [sic] hir landis rentis [etc.] … to outred and pay the sovme of iij lib. forsadis 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 124.
That [John Achesone] … plegit the tane halff of the corn and stra [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy I. 262/22.
Virginius … tuke this money afore plegit sa halely that [etc.]c. 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 422.
To caus all his freindis or servandis … not ellis plegit for, to entir under plegisd. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 138.
That … he wald drink to the folk that I wist of gif I wald pledge thamee. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1108 (Wr.).
I pledge, ere all the play be plaid, That some shall lose a laike