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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.

Prisin(g, Prys(e)ing, Pryc(e)ing, vbl. n. Also: prisyng, pryssyng, -yne; pryzeing. [Late ME and e.m.E. prysynge (Prompt. Parv.), prisinge, pricynge (c 1490), prizeing (1678–9), also preysinge (14–15th c.), praysyng (1524), praising.]

1. The official prescribing of prices in burghs (chiefly of ale and flesh): see Pris(e v.¹ 2 a. = Pris(e n.¹ 4 a, b. 14.. Acts I 332/2.
At thai keip thaim that nouther for gift prayer no med thai do fauour in thar prising 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 9.
And at thai see to prisyng of flesche 1469 Newburgh B. Ct. 40 b.
That thay [the officers] dyd nocht offys to flys pryssyne & to breyde 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 17.
For the prising of aile in the said burghe, the sergeand and the cunnaris ordainit tharfor 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I 166 (see Pris(e n.¹ 4 a, b.). 1496 Prestwick B. Rec. 33.
Prisin 1502 Ib. 37.

2. Assigning a value, rate or price to anything: see Pris(e v.¹ 1. 1510 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 10.
The said Isabel sal paye … tua kye as thai ar availl at the sycht and prising of tua persone chossyne be the parteis 1517 Ib. 43.
The said Jhone [is] to preff the prisyng of the said hors and meill the said daye 1572 Crail B. Ct. MS 6 Oct.
For the prysing off eury oxe or kow thre penneis and eury scheipe … ane penny 1586 Perth B. Ct. 17 Sept.
The said Oliuer Cokis geir abone rehersit extending ourhede of mydling prysing to thre s. vj d. the pund 1606 Peebles Gleanings 12.
The actis of parliamentis concerning prycing of workis and workmenis feais 1616 Corshill Baron Ct. 72.
Birlaymen in … pryseing of any thing poyndit within the lairdshipe 1670 Galloway P. 30 July.
[They shall] live the said milne … als sufficient at the expyring of this tak as the samyn is maid sufficient according to the prysing of twa honest men at ther entrie 1684 New Mills Manuf. 62.
Befor the pryceing of cloath

b. Official valuation for the purposes of compensation of crops eaten by another's animals.Cf. Pris(e v.¹ 1 (1) (b) quot. 1661, also 1 c, and Prisit ppl. adj. c and Prise-corn(e n. 1669 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 18.
To exercisse the office of birlamen for pryzeing of eatine corns

3. Apprising of goods or heritage for debt: see Pris(e v.¹ 1 b. ? 1449 Fam. Rose 170.
Vnder the pane of prising of his awin gudis 1498 Acta Conc. II 222.
For the wrangus … poynding … fra the sade Thomas of v^xx of ky and oxin furth of the placis of [etc.] … made in maner of prising thairof be parciale folkis 1498–9 Ib. 326.
The actis, decretis and proces of the prising past apone the sammyn [lands] 1499 Exch. R. XI 436. 1499–1500 Elphinstone Mun. 16.
Efter the forme of the act … maid apone landis prising for det 1535–6 Treas. Acc. VI 266.
For prysing of the Lard of Petslegois landis and gudis

4. An offering of praise to God. = Praising vbl. n.¹ Arundel MS 251/379.
And the hevinly visionis with all the vertuis and prisingis, alsueill celebrait as tobe celebrait, of all the creaturis of hevin and erd