A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Prat(t)i(e, adj. [ME (c 1400) and e.m.E. praty, -ie: cf. OE prættig crafty, wily and Prat(t n., and MLG prattich capricious, overbearing. The common Sc. forms are pretty, prety, Pretty adj.] Comely; artistic, ingenious; excellent, good; brave, stout. = Pretty adj.1535 Stewart 23934.
Ane wonder prattie cheild a1578 Pitsc. I 359/13.
Witht gallȝart dancing … and prattie frassis and playis c 1635 Black Bk. Taymouth 439.
Ane four or fayf houndir of my auin planting, that is pratti treis 1638 Bk. Pasquils 33.
A mutinous muckle trouble-feast, A prattie, peevish, monstrous beast 1655 Annandale Corr. 301.
Ue shall haue 600 … men … for our recruits also, which I hope will put our regement in pratie posture 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 39.
The laird can … raise a good number of weell armed prattie men
