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.

Pley, Ple(e, n. Also: pleye, plei(e; plie; play, pllay, plai-; plea, pleay; ply; Plew. [ME. and e.m.E. plai, play (c 1290), ple (c 1320), plee (c 1380), pley (c 1440), plea (a 1531), also plait, plaid (a 1250), pleet (c 1400), plete (1510–20), plur. also place (1463–4), OF. plai (c 1170), play law-suit, action, earlier plaid (842 in Strasbourg oath) agreement, decision, law-court, suit, etc., L. placitum that which pleases or is agreed upon, decision, decree, also in plur. (as placita habēre or tenēre) = assembly of state, subst. use of p.p. neut. of L. placēre to please. Cf. Plede n.] A plea, in various usual senses.There is possible ambiguity between senses 6 and 7.

1. An action at law (concerning, apon, of a crime specified, or thing in dispute); a law-suit; the presentation of an action in a court of law; litigation. Also transf.To move pley, to institute legal proceedings. See also Move v. 6.To obtene a pley, to gain the decision in a law-suit.In plur., ? sometimes with sing. sense; or ? perh. a coll. use of the plur. of 3 below.See also Lawpley n.(1) 1454 Douglas Chart. 384.
Gif … euir … ony stryfe pley questioun or demand be movit thar vpoun 1474 Reg. Morton II. 222.
I no nane wther … sal move no ger lat pley be movit 1475 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 453.
Or thai agane qhwom the pley hapinis to be movit 1495 Contract (Mey H.) MS. 13 June.
Neuer to … mow pley to the said Alexander Ib.
The said Alexander bindis … him … neuer … to mow pley of the said landis 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 127.
Anentis thair ple movit betuex thaim 1538 Reg. Privy S. II. 402/2. 1543–4 Treas. Acc. VIII. 269.
In the pley and caus of divors movit betuyx his grace and his spous 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 126 b.
Pleie 1565 Curle Coll. MS. (Reg. H.).
Occupijt the samyn befor peciable without ony trouble or plee movit 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 17.plur. 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 89.
The pleys movit be Jhone Smaill and James Murray anent the said Johnnes hors and the said James kow(2) sing. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1240 (Ch.).
Lowrence the actis and the proces wrait And thus the pley vnto the end thay speid 1496 Acta Conc. II. 7.
The costis [etc.] … sustenit in the persewt … of the sade pley 1498–9 Acta Conc. II. 323.
Tweching the debait pley and controversy depending betuex the sadis partiis apone the … possession of ane tenement of land c1420 Bute MS. 70.
Gif ony war adiournat to a certan day & pley 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 32.
A marche … Of twa feildis forto decern tharby The ald debait of pley or contrauersy 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 19 (see Decisioun n.). 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 212.
And als gif ony pley sald happin to rys thairupoune for ony gudis tane [etc.] 1533 Ib. II. 63.
Gif ony personis … withhaldis the gudis … and sustenis pley thairintill [etc.] 1535 Stewart 13045.
For rycht thairof he raisit hes greit pley 1539 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 14 Apr. 1552–3 Lanark B. Rec. 23. 1564 Perth B. Ct. 57 (12 Apr.). c1575 Balfour Pract. 240 (see Ploy n.¹ a). 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV. 107.
Having litle substance … [he] can hardlie entir ane langsum pley … or abyde the … determinatioun thairof 1591 Montg. Suppl. 309.
That all questioun and pley may be removit and takin away 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Recordum.
Quhen ane pley or cause is advocate from ane inferiour judge to ane superiour 1600-1610 Melvill 5.
Be … dyvers actions of pley befor the Lords of Sessioun and Exchacker 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 13 (see Mute n. 2 b (1)). 1615 Highland P. III. 174 (see Actioun n. 1). 1680 Conv. Burghs IV. 19.
The Duke of Hamiltoun … commenced a litigious pley against the toun of Lithgow 1699 Foulis Acc. Bk. 268.(b) 1530 Soc. Ant. II. 398.
The sys delivers that Thom Synclar sall haif xx s. of the common guid to debait the pleye 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 18 b.
The friemoneye that leifes our the pleye 1640 Lithgow Poet. Remains 216.
The judge was pleader, he discuss'd the pleye(c) 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 78.
Plee 1527–8 Ib. 93.
The ple dependand betueix Thomas Ker and James Trumbull 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 6.
In defens of the ple betuix the toun and freir Allane(d) 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 53.
The exceptiones proponit … ar declinatouris quhilkis suld hef beyne proponit in the begynnyng of the play befoyr litis contestatione 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
[He] socht to mak ane other change of court and set vp new play agane(e) a1568 Bann. MS. 261 b/24.
Or ellis the ply will not be endit 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 386.
Anent the charge given be Dumbartaine to the toune anent the old ply(f) a1585 Maitl. Q. li. 9.
Thay rew To found ane plie [F. pleye] that euer thay pretendit a1605 Montg. Son. xix. 2.
My Lords hou long will ȝe delay To put the poets pensione out of plie? 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. a.
Pryde makis plie … Plie makis powertie 1694 Stirling B. Rec. II. 71.
The expenses of the said plie(g) 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxv. 3. (1699) 127.
The judge who judges unskilfully … is punishable by a fine beside that he pays the expences of the pleaplur. (a) 1483 Acts II. 166/1.
Be having of mone fnrth of the realme be prelatis … for promocions and pleis in the court of Rome 1493 Ib. 233/1 (see Persecutio(u)n(e n. 2 d). 1488 Rep. Sir Rob. Menzies MSS. 704.
In all … his actions caussis querellis and pleyis … lefull and honest 1498 Acta Conc. II. 189.
Considerand the pleyis had ymangis the sadis partiis in … Rome and in … Scotland 1505 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 404.
Decreit on the pleyis with the Laird of Inuerugy 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 22.
Anentis the pleis betuix hir & Elesabeth Levinston 1526–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 84.
For certane pleis betuex the saidis parteis 1529 Ib. MS. 140 a.
Procuratour and interlocutour for hyme in to his pleis 1535 Stewart 1372.
For to execute Iustice and law and pleyis for to mute 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2881 (Ch.). 1545 Prot. Bk. Hew Rig. 16 a.
He abstenes fra the said pleyis 1550 Cupar B. Rec. 3 Dec.
The … perfurnesing of certane pleyis concernyng the comone veil of the town 1545 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 116.
All maner of persouns that hes ony pleyis to persew or defend 1600-1610 Melvill 63.
The collage haid monie pleyes in law depending that yeir a1650 Row 174 (W).
The Session charged with buying of pleyes [etc.](b) 1614 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 201.
By longsome pleas in law 1623 Ancram & Loth. Corr. I. 30.
Because I saw it was a sea of pleas 1691 Acts Sederunt ii. 192.]
[The ignorance and informallity of nottars which occasiones many pleas(3) c 1500 Halyb. xxii.
Throw na galangȝe or yit haterand … I … sal continew thys pleye of curt and debait betuix [etc.] 1676 Old Ross-shire I. 300.
To enter in pleyes of lawe — 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 92.
Pley … is criminall … Or civill … Generally criminall pleyes perteines to the justitiar 1628 Justiciary Cases I. 83.
As in the criminall ples daitit [etc.](4) 1503 Acts II. 245/1.
Ane breve of pley … for the eschewin of sic friuole exceptiouns — 1600-1610 Melvill 5.
Actions of pley(5) 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 84.
The said Patrik protestit for coistis … in cais he obtenit the pley(6) 1585 Wemyss Chart. 216.
With all … expenssis of plei they sall happin sustein thairthrow 1596 Paisley B. Rec. 174.
In expenssis of pley in obtaining this decreit 1602 Inverness Rec. II. 2. 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 57.
Four pundis money as for expenssis of pley 1678 Stitchill Baron Ct. 83.
The judge decerned in manner forsaid with 12 sh. of expenses of pley — 1659 Writers Signet 283.
Creaving soumes of pley outt of the box for furnishng him with cloths(7) a1500 Bk. Chess 1419.
Gret pleyis baith of lyf & land 1500 Acta Conc. II. 437.
That he requirit my Lord Chawmerlane til take the pley apone him of the lands [etc.] 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 117.
In Faukland at the pley of Glenbervy to ane notair for the taking of ane instrument 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 171.
The disputacioun of the richt of the pley of the landis of Petgorno betuix him & James Ramsay 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 56.
The pley betuix Thomas Ur & Jhon of Twodell of the birnyng of his hous 1539 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 199.
Remittis all clame and pley and rycht of mareage geyr … allegit aucht to hyme 1541 Treas. Acc. VII. 480.
For ourgeving of the pley of the vicarage of Panbryde 1562–3 St. A. Kirk S. 178.
Of the impediment and pleye of mariaige depending 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Melletvm.(8) 1581–2 Misc. Stair Soc. I. 107.
The pretendit richt quhilk the … Erle of Huntlie pretendit to the saidis landis and thairby wald cummer him with pley

b. On pley, ? engaged in litigation. But perh. properly belonging to 2 or 3 below. 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 134.
To ane pur wedo … quhilk taryit heir lang on pley

c. A particular kind of legal action or proceeding. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 6, etc.
The mute or pley of breaking of the kings peace [etc.] Ib. ii. 92.
Pleyes of the crowne are foure in number: murther, burning, reif, revising of women a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 10.
The pley about debts of laique men perteins to the kings court

d. transf. The cost of litigation. — a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 180 (Harl.).
Aduocatis … be thare practik the sentence sa resplatis Quhill that the pley oft pas the principall

2. In (in to) pley.

a. Of a person: To enter, also cum, fall, stand, etc., in pley, to engage in, or be engaged in, litigation.To have or hald (a person) in pley, to subject to litigation.To be in plie with (a thing), to be engaged in a law-suit about.To have (an action) in or into pley, to be engaged in litigation.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii. 346 (W).
Quhare thar cumis in pley twa men Askand the croune of a kinrik — 1501 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 91.
Declarand … thai wald stand in pley with him thairinto bot in contentacioun — a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xiv. 12.
Fall nocht in plie for thing that lytill valis — a1500 Henr. Fab. 1190 (H).
It is richt perrillous Till enter in pley before ane iuge suspect 1491–2 Acta Conc. I. 222/2. 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 181.
Because thai … enterit in to pley be litiscontestacion maid ore [= before] that thai askit thar warandar c1575 Balfour Pract. 333.
Ane minor may be compellit to enter in pley in ony actioun … concerning his heritage [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 351.
That sum ministers hes to enter in pley of law 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xxxvi.
He … vald rather suffer los of gudis then enter in pley withe his nychtbouris(2) 1540 Edinb. Chart. 212.
And thairfor hes the said provest … in pley before the Lordis of Counsale 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 561.
[Merchants] being of lang tyme haldyn in pley [for recovery of their ship](3) 1564–75 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 45.
Ten bollis of meill that I and my sone wes in plie with(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 26.
Gif ȝe haif pleid Or mater in to pley 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. 4 a.
Quha hes thair causis actuale in pley

b. Of the thing in dispute: To be in pley, to be the subject of litigation. 1479 Acta Conc. I. 34/1.
Quhilk benefice … is in pley and debate betuix Sir Dauid … and Sir George & as ȝit vndecidit 1490–1 Dundee B. Ct. I. 166 b (14 Jan.).
Of the poyk of maddyr that wes in pley 1503 Ch. in Orkney 309.
And sa thair is in pley … bot 7 sts. allannerlie 1521 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 61.
This gud in pleye betuix [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I. 12.
Als oft as the croun of Pichtis come in pley 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 163.
The tenement of Peter Portuis in ple be the ayris of Jhone Brydin a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 18.
Quhen the crowne was desolat and in pley betuix the Bruce and the Balioll 1596 Dalr. II. 65/32. 1622-6 Bisset I. 291/13.
The landis that ar in pley

c. Of an action at law: To depend in pley, to be pending. — 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 223.
The act … twicheing thair actionis dependand in pley

3. A pleading; a plea by or on behalf of a litigant; an allegation (of wrong-doing), made formally to a law-court; a statement in answer to or in rebuttal of an allegation.To mak pley, to plead.Also, spec., the pleading of an ecclesiastical case at Rome.See also the note to 1 above.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1177 (Ch.).
As aduocatis … The doggis pley [Bann. ply] … tuke on hand Ib. 2309 (Ch.).
Baith proponit thair pley to him compleit a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 180 (Harl.).
Aduocatis … be thare practik the sentence sa resplatis Quhill that the pley oft pas the principall 1556 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xxviii.
In the begyning of hir pley thair wes ane exceptioun producit befoir yow a1568 Bann. MS. 144 b/30.
Is nane so wyis can him defar Quhen he proponis furth ane ple Ib. 239 a/8.
Gif ȝe … with ane ney me quyt … It is ȝour pley perfyte c1575 Balfour Pract. 275.
Suppois he mak not gude record of ony pley or clame proponit be ony partie in court 1634 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. xxxvi.
In all pleyis and complaintis quhilk concernis thame — 1500 Acta Conc. II. 429.
In the defence of the pley of bastardry proponit aganis him(b) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 42.
Obey and ceis the play that thow pretendis 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 97.
He is contentit to ansuer … be ane summondis or ane sempill bill and the saidis persones plais(2) 1442 (1444) Reg. Great S. 64/1.
To aganecall revok or to mak pley agane thir oure condiciones 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 317/1.
The tedious and costly pleyis that has bene maid anent the rycht of the said abbay 1537 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. V. 22.
I … never herd pleye of na man quhill … Maitland off Leidinton … maikis a pleye c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5532.
Sum afore iugis makand pley 1566 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 42.
For expens of play maid be the said … principall

b. ? The right to object or appeal. — 1490 Fam. Rose 153.
That the said Huchone haue nother ple na tarie jn the forsaidis sommys

4. But (without) (ony) pley, without litigation or objection; not liable to plea or counter-plea. b. Also, in weakened sense: Indisputably.Cf. 1 and 3 above. 1463 Lennox Mun. 148.
Thir landis … witht thar pertinentis fre but ple 1478 Peebles B. Rec. I. 183 (see Demand n. 2). 1481 Ib. 189 (see Adversité n. 2). 1486 Oliphants 26.
But ony ple, stop or impediment of me and all otheris 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 676.
Submittand me but ony langer pley Venus' … plesure to obey 1515 Douglas Corr. 68.
Promovyt to that seyt quhilk now is vacand and but pley and ane gud byschepry of [? rent] 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 81.
The said Jhone sal be enterit without ple and alligatioun quhatsumever 1531 Bell. Boece I. 33.
The Kingis son sal succeid to the crown but pley 1535 Stewart 1314. Ib. 44816 (see Plede n. 1 (2)).
All the land … Ay for till bruke but contrapleid or pley 1536 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 20. 1554–5 Stirling B. Rec. I. 62.
That he may bruik the samyn [sc. his property] peceablie without pley 1596 Bk. Dunvegan I. 72.
And dimitt the same [lands] frelie … withoute onye controversie or pley of the lawis 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 74.
The quhilk he meicht hawe haid first withowt pllayb. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 456 (Harl.).
Presumpcioun rysis off the auld serpentyne Quhilk is but pley ane periious pestilence

5. Contention, strife. b. An instance of this; a quarrel or squabble; a breach of the peace; open conflict, brawl.See also Controversy n., Cummer n.; etc.(1) 1514–5 Fife Sheriff Ct. 9.
Because it wes impetrat … for inamite pley & discord betuix thame of heretaige 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 55.
For stancheing of pley betuix the fermoraris and baxsteris 1535 Stewart 24142. Ib. 457.
The Scottis then and the Pechtis … war withoutin pley or pleid Haiffand na dreid of ony Britis feid 1546–7 Perth Hammermen 59.
That quhat servand or prenteis … that makis ony pley amangis them [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 106.
Nocht to raise pley nor to do uther men skaith 1566 Old Ross-shire I. 15.
For eschewing of cummers, extinctioun of pley, amitie and concord to be had betwix thame in tyme cuming 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XII. 78.
[Ministers of each presbytery to] compone the grunds of pley 1600 Crim. Trials II. 206.
That thair was ane tumult of pley at the Erle of Gowryis ludgeing(b) c1578 Reid Swire 153.
Who did invent that day of play We need not fear to find him soon(c) 1596 Dalr. II. 442/5.
Nouther suirlie euir … [was] fund onie plie or dissentioune betuene her and her nobelis(2) 1535 Stewart 31669.
He said agane, ‘Quhat makis that to thé?’ And suddantlie thai fell into ane pley Ib. 40186.
Than suddantlie thair wald ryiss sic ane pley That [etc.] 1593 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 815.
Quher ony pley or contraversie arrysis betuix tua of … diuerse Presbitereis 1612 Prot. Bk. W. Leslie 23 b.
Anent the … mitilitatione [sic] of the said James Ogilvie of tua of his fingeris … done in redding ane pley 1632 Brechin Kirk S. 7 Aug.
Iff he make any pley or tuillie within the bounds of Brechin c1650 Spalding I. 297.
By ane pley fell out betuixt sum soldiouris and Alex^r Merser 1658 Dumfries Kirk S. 13 May.
Charged with … drunkennes … and that he maid a tumult and pley as he was going home 1668 Cramond Ch. Deskford 25 Sept.
By reason off ane scandalous pley & horrid murther had fallen out among his people 1673 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 50.
All the foirnamed pairties wes provine in a mutuall pley(b) 1524–5 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 74.
Depones that he hard Thome Keyne and James Marityne at ane plee for that hyd(c) 1643 Baillie II. 88.
In a drunken plie(d) 1654 Cullen Kirk S. 19 Feb.
That Jhone Phaine … made ane plea upon the saboth(3) 15[31] Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 113.
And thai pleit about the geir and I left thaim sa wyth the ple 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 355.
Ane of thir clannis wantit ane man to perfurneis furth the pleye Id. Livy I. 54/5.
Ane resonabill way was found … to discus this pley 1563–4 Inverness Rec. I. 112.
Quhilk was the ground of all the haill pley a1578 Pitsc. I. 350/17.
It is heir that makis all this ple and commer in the hollie kirk 1603 Philotus cxxxv.
It cummis to cuffis the man Ile end the play that thow began 1638 Baillie I. 63. 1668 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 276.
The pley was so mixed that it was hard to judge who was the provoker 1671 Rothesay B. Rec. 217.
That the first aryse of the pley … was of sume speiches past betuix thame 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xi. 12. (1699) 64.
When the murder was … committed in … tuilȝie the author of the pley is … punishable by death(b) 1619 Symson in Sel. Biog. I. 77.
He … going betwixt them … frayed the plea(4) 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 77.
Lat ws obey Phebus and wend awa … but pleys 1533 Gau 15/27.
Thay that wil notht agre … and stop striff pleis and crabitnes … sine aganis this command 1551 Hamilton Cat. 270.
Delivir us fra all dangears … of … seditioun and battel of pleyis and cummar 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Sequester, a reddar of plaies 1596 Dalr. II. 445/30.
Tha … plyes monie had slokned 1649 Conv. Burghs III. 348.
For the … avoyding the many questiones pleaes and abusses and dissorderis … at thair staple port 1679 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 100.

6. A verbal dispute; a controversy; an argument or debate. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 8/6.
Without al dout sa doing thai had win the cause and al our pley hald an end 1558-66 Knox I. 265.
Long have ye and I bein in pley for purgatory 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xiii.
If any historie … did euer mention buriall at altar or tabernacle … I will giue ouer the pleay 1699 Conv. Burghs IV. 294.
That not soe much as the seed of pley may remain to foster keep up or maintain the seed of stryff

7. proverb. in sense 1. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 660.
Na plie is best a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 966.
Let alon your bauch pleyes Ib. No. 1304.
The les pley the better