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.
Quotation dates: 1420-1687
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Plet, v. Also: plett. P.t. plet(t, also pletted. P.p. plet(t, (Doug. yplet), plete. [Late ME. plett (c 1450), p.p. ipletted (15–16th c.), pletted (1600), otherwise only Sc., and in the mod. Sc., north. and north midl. Eng. dial.Corresp. to late ME. and e.m.E. plait v., f. Plait n. The explan. of the difference of vowel is uncertain.]
tr. To fashion (a braid, net, hurdle or the like) by intertwining or interweaving the strands etc.; also, to cause (one thing) to become entwined in another.(1) (a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1911 (Bann.).
The feind plettis his nettis stark and rude 1513 Doug. xi. ii. 14.
Sum of Eneas ferys bissely Flakis to plet thame presys by and by 1513 Ib. xii. Prol. 192.
Wenschis and damysellis … Plettand thar lusty chaplettis for thar hed c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxvii. 29.
And thai pletting [L. plectentes; P. foldiden] a crovn of thornis c1590 Fowler I. 340/54.
The wenches … primrose garlandes plett 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 425.
2 gairdneris … snedding the treis & pletting the thorne in the buriall ȝaird 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Plecto, to punish, to plett a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xix. 5.
A garland properly sho plets To set vpon hir heid 1634 Wedderburn Gramm. 45.
Plico, to plet(b) 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 29.
Oft plet scho garlandis for his tyndis hie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3899.
In maner of dirisioun Thay plett for hym ane creuell croun Off prunȝeand thornis(b) 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII. 136.
I pletted the belt for the knee of the breach(2) a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1516.
Quhen all the mesis ar seruit & set Thy kist keye in the claith thow plet
b. In p.p., Entwined, intertwined.Also with various complements, as about someone or something, into or with something else, or of the intertwining ropes, wands etc.a1500 Henr. Fab. 1528 (H).
The raipis rude was sa about him plet On euerie side that succour saw he none 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 197.
Greyn branschis plet for ȝour hed garlandis 1513 Ib. ix. ii. 64.
Lyke as … The wild wolf … Abowt the bowght plet all of wandis tyght Brays and gyrnys 1513 Ib. xii. ii. 126.
Hys crispand ȝallow hair … Yplet ilk nycht on the warm broch of steill 1535 Stewart 50942.
The rampand lyoun all in reid gold sett With dowbill tresett on the bordour plett c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 94.
The silkin cordis was all about thame plet With emeraudis c1550 Ib. iv. 364.
To se his handis into ane cord thus plet 15.. Clariodus iv. 1313.
This lustie hat of greine levis plet c1590 J. Stewart 78/206.
The curius knots so circuat … About the letters plet Thairbe the bands of Cupid notifeis a1603 Anc. Prophecies 19.
His bordour was of asure sheene With silke and sabil well was plet a1605 Montg. Son. viii. 10.
Come, troup of tuinis, about his temple tuyn Ȝour laurell leivis with palmis perfytly plet 1639 Johnston Diary I. 410.
That the croun of his glory … might be seien to be plet with the threie links of a visible pouer
2. To cross or fold (one's arms, hands, legs or feet); also, to clasp (arms or hands) about something.c1460 Wisdom of Solomon (S.T.S.) 220.
That the full suere man plettis his handis one his brest and [etc.] 1513 Doug. xiii. xi. 4.
Venus … baith hir armys abowt hys feyt plet Enbrasand thame a1568 Bannatyne MS 81 a/47.
Thay passit by with handis plett With purtye fra I wes ourtane 1619 Calderwood Solution Doctor Resolutus 34.
The Turkes … did communicate after the same form, sitting on the ground … with their legs or feet plett
3. To enfold or clasp (another, in one's arms), to clasp (one another, in each other's arms).c1420 Wynt. ix. 3258.
Wyth blyth chere thare he hym plet In armis so thankfully a1500 Henr. Fab. 194 (Asl.).
The welcummyng was schawin thaim betwene For … thai … Quhilis kissit sweit and quhilis in armes plete [: met, grete p.t.; v.rr. plet] 1531 Bell. Boece I. ix.
Thow may nocht have ane more excellent blis Than ly all nicht in to min armis plet 1535 Stewart 45111.
Thir tua princes togidder quhen tha met Ather hes other into armes plet a1568 Bannatyne MS 141 a/34.
Than in my armes I cowth hir plett And scho to thraw a1568 Scott a1568 Ib. 256 a/8.
Quhen that I went with that sweit may … And oft tymes in my armis plet hir
4. P.p. Of a thing: Clasped, fixed closely, piled, to or on another thing.1531 Bell. Boece I. xliii.
Thir salmond … spawnis with thair wamis plet to uthir 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 28.
Thow saif me fra the deuillis net Thairfoir thow on the croce was plet 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 33/270.
I had farr rather Babell tower forthsett Then the thre Grecian hilles on others plett [F. l'vn dessus l'autre entez] To pull doun gods afraide
