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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.

Privé, Privy, Prevé, Prevy, adj., n. and adv. Also: priw-, pryv-, pryw-, prew- and -ee, -ey, -ei, -ye, -ie, -ay(e, -a(e, preivie, prievie; (prif). [ME and e.m.E. privé (Ancr. R.), pryvé (Manning), privei, -ee, -ey (14th–15th c.), prevé (Cursor M.), -ey (Chaucer), -y (Trevisa), F. privé (12th c. in Littré), as noun AF (13th c.), L. prīvāt-us Privat adj.fully attested forms in e no doubt represent a normal Sc. development of ĭ to e: in open syllable. However, some scribes, such as that of the E MS of Barb., use the same superscript abbreviation for re (as in presence; Barb. 1 20) as for ri (as in price; Barb. 1 25). In this case the decision of a text editor whether to transcribe preué or priué, etc., may be arbitrary. In this Dictionary we have followed the decisions of the text editors (in the case of Barb. (E) that of the S.T.S. edition of 1980, 1981).]

A. adj. 1. That belongs to one's private circle of close friends or companions; intimate, familiar.Const. possess. or, in postmodification, to (till) one or dative pron., or with one.Only in early verse.(1) 1375 Barb. v 62 (E).
The king … askyt his prywe [C. preue] men in hy Quhat at thaim thocht [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. ii 119.
Fyfe of his maste prewe men Reprewit Nero ?1438 Alex. i 2397.
His men preuie Ib. ii 10522.
Als nyne or ten Of thair nerrest preuie men(2) 1375 Barb. iv 566 (E).
Than the king … Callyt ane that wes him prewe [C. Callyt till him ane that wes preue] And off Carrik his countre And chargyt him [etc.] Ib. v 494.
& a man … Wes to the King Robert mast preue [C. prewe] As he that wes his sibman ner a1400 Leg. S. ii 723.
Prewe ?1438 Alex. i 587.
Priuie

b. Strange and (nor, as) privé, not intimate and intimate, all, everyone. Also absol. 1375 Barb. xx 578 (E).
The Lord of Douglas … That wes ded … All menyt him strang & preue [C. prewe] ?1438 Alex. ii 6697.
Reuing and wicked disherising … Garris the lord hated be Alswele with strange as with preue Ib. 7151.
Couetous, scarce and quyed He was … that in his countre Was nouther strange na ȝit preue That he na reft rent and mobillis baith Ib. 8211.
I will ilkane, strange and priue [F. chascuns], Vpon ȝour hors all armit be

2. Personal to oneself, unofficial, done in a private, not an official, capacity. 1468 Smit Bronnen I ii 1019.
And there be my gud racorde maid off ȝow and other gud priwa laboris thai haff proclamyt that [etc.] 1567 Reg. Privy C. 4 Dec. in Churchyard's Chips (1817) 174.
Her previe letters written halelie with her awn hand 1575 Orkney Oppress. 6.
In disponing of benefices of the country vacant at the King's Majesty's gift … be his privy gift and provision a1578 Pitsc. I 39/10.
They baitht … preferit the samin [sc. common weill] to all previe quarrellis and debaittis Ib. 369/26.
And also the kingis prievie and heavie meane that hir husband maid for hir was greatter nor all the laif Ib. 40/26. 1600-1610 Melvill 306.
His privie conversation being espyed and his speitches taken heid to 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 23.
Accuseit for the giffing in of ane previe dittay aganis the hall dittay men and honest nychbouris … quhilk altogidder he could nocht preife 1617 Kirkwall Sheriff Ct. Act Bk. 9 b.
That nane buy martis fishe oill … to sell again for thair privie gain

b. Of a person: That has no official position or standing. 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 270.
And sua the saidis pretendit minister, eldaris, and diaconis … being bot certan pryvay and ignorant personis 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV 627.
Be the misbehaviour of certane prevey personis of ane uther natioun 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Actornatus.
For ane procuratorie is comonlie maid be ane privie man, and ane actornay … is granted be the king

3. Not openly visible or audible or generally known; not public or done in public; kept to oneself, private, secret, hidden, concealed; clandestine. a. Of a place. 1375 Barb. xvii 93 (E).
Thai … but persawing come wp all And held thaim in a nuk preue [C. preue] a1400 Leg. S. xxxix 318.
To cume in a prywe place Quhare he thocht hyre for to sla Ib. vii 479. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 876 (C).
Pryvee c1420 Wynt. v 2044.
A bettyre lessown newyre wes red Than I herd in a priwa [W. preve, C. prewaye] sted Ib. 5588.
Prewa Ib. viii 2209 (W).
About a hill a preve way … thai stall a1500 K. Hart 313.
King Hart in till ane previe closet crappe a1500 Prestis of Peblis 4 (Asl.). a1500 Seven S. 135.
Ane day in the chalmer preve The empriour kist the gay ladye Ib. 2344.
Gif he wald wndertak Ane preve passage for to mak a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 423. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matthew xxiv 26.
Priuee 1531 Bell. Boece II 389.
Prevay 1533 Boece 299 b.
Secretely aduertising Britouns of ane prive entre [L. occulto itinere] … opynnyt the portis Ib. 411.
The servandis … at ane prive posterne bure furth his corps [L. per posticum exportatum] a1540 Freiris Berw. 129. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7233. 1579 Inverness Rec. I 266.
That wrangusle … vsis the craft of ane cordinar in working … in preway and queat chalmeris 1584 Glasgow B. Rec. I 112.
At yaird endis, bakyettis and vther privie places of this townecompar. and superl. a1400 Leg. S. ii 303.
In-to his chawmer maste prewe, Wele closit … Paule apperit to Nero Cesare Ib. xvi 521.
Thai … fand a cawe, & of it in the maste priwe place Thai lad that body Ib. xxxv 46, 48.
‘Led me quhare it is maste priue!’ Thane til a chawmir scho hym lede Mare priue Ib. 56 (see Privité n. 2 a (1)).

b. Of actions and non-material things, also of written messages or reports.(a) 1375 Barb. xv 330 (E).
He … maid a priue [C. preue] gadering And gat him a gret cumpany a1400 Leg. S. ii 1104.
And als of oure maste priwe thocht Ib. xliii 40. c1420 Wynt. iv 2366.
Quhen he was dede in till his hand Thai priwe [W. prive, C. prewa] lettrys closyd fand That warnyd off his dede [etc.] Ib. viii 1534.
For that thai In to prywy [C. prewe, W. In hiddillis and in] buschement lay c1475 Wall. viii 1263.
Commaund your men tharfor in priway wys, … thai wyrk nocht on sic wys a1500 Sir Eger 465.
She heard them with [P. att] a privie din 1489 Grey Friars II 128.
Every brother that is priest [shall sing] a privy mes … for the saul of Dame Marjory foresaid, the day of her obit c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi 46.
For pryvie [M. prevay] hatrent that tratour trymlit c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matthew x 26.
Priuay Id. Luke viii 17.
Priuey 1533 Perth Convener Ct. Bk. No. 4.
Alex^r Lindesay [etc.] … in priway maner hes chosin Johnne Donyng to be prouest 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 159.
My cheif and freindis then I gart convene To ane priue counsall all thegidder a1568 Bann. MS 226 b/28.
Scho will … confort me with priue wirdis fair 1564 Acts & Decreets in Riddell Tracts 168.
That in sik allegit privie mariage, the ryt of … heretaige … may be [etc.] 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 27.
That na privie frauchting be betuix merchant and merinar a1578 Pitsc. I 41/15. Ib. II 120/28.
And to that effectt scho conclwdit … to send priwie wreittingis vnto France schawand the King of France [etc.] 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 146.
In privie revengement c1590 Fowler II 23/25.
In this priuie conference, … nane being present to beir record thairto(b) 1375 Barb. x 657 (E).
Hard steryng and preue speking And alsua [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. v 12.
That God gaf hym wittinge Atoure athire of prewe thinge ?1438 Alex. ii 4406.
Quhen the Bauderane In presoun was with preue pane c1420 Wynt. ix 1795.
He had a preve [C. prewae] suspicioune That [etc.] Ib. viii 5747 (W). c1475 Wall. x 973.
Betwix thai twa was maid a prewa band Ib. 1083.
A prewa fawour the bischop till him bar Ib. xi 205. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 175/2 (Asl.).
Hie honour is the tressour of nobilnes, his preve ritches 1513 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 144.
And hald thame at thair previe labouris of the gait within thair houssis as efferis 1540 Crim. Trials I i 228.
Ane knawin ring … send to thame as ane previe taikin 1559 Ib. 406. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5442.
Quhair he maid preuie compactioun, that nane did knaw, With vncouth men 1565 Peebles B. Rec. I 298.
That na preway infefment be gif be na notar … bot that the tounes clerk be present with the regester of the toun to reid the saissing 1558-66 Knox II 165. a1568 Scott iii 17. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
Be ane prevy intelligence with the quene and verie few of the nobilitie 1580 Inverness Rec. I 282.
On ewill wicket will … and preway gruge in hart 1588–9 Reg. Privy C. IV 358.
[Jesuits are] alluraris and persuadaris be dispersing of buikis and prevey ressoning amangis the simple … people 1607 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 97.
Thair hes bene a preuey dealing be some of ȝour maiesteis counsell anent [etc.] 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 522.
Thair wes … a prevey conventicle keipit by those ministeris 1611 Ib. IX 234.
Prevey stouthis(c) 1585 Cal. Sc. P. VII 645.
I have taine occasione throw the commodite of my Lord Screopes prif letteris to wreit unto yow

c. Of a person or persons in a certain capacity or as acting in a specified way. c1475 Wall. vi 622.
A prewa wach he gert amang thaim ga c1500 Rowll Cursing 16 (M).
Bayth … Ressattaris and the previe steilaris a1540 Freiris Berw. 437 (M).
I haue ane page full previe of myn awin Will cum to me quhen that I list vnknawin 1567 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 576.
Bothwell … [was] sklanderit be his ewill willaris and privie enymeis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 47.
He sollicitat some previe men gar hang hir on hir bed with hir awin belt 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II 122.
The inhabitantis … being fautouris and prevy furnissaris of the rebellis 1577 Knox IV 300. 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 199.
Thow came quhair tua notaris was, owt of the presence of ony juge, and befoir the fensing of ony court, and ther, befoir tua or thrie previe witnessis, declarit, that [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 119.
To haiff bein done be a privie faction, turbulentlie and treasonablie

d. To kepe (something, also someone) hidden, secret, to oneself: cf. Prively adv. 1 b. a1540 Freiris Berw. 435 (B).
That ȝe keip it previe, Latt no man wit that I can do sic thing Ib. 438. 1600 Stirling Kirk S. in Misc. Maitl. C. I 134.
Albeit she was banesit the toune for fornicatione, the brethrein grantis [her] licience … to remain nureis with the said lady … and that she be keipit privie off the calsay

e. Of an official act: Done in private or behind closed doors, not publicly. 1556 Wemyss Chart. 185.
Recognitionis, forfaultour, prevay or patent sesingis and [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
Dittay may be taken vp … privatly and publickly, for the justice and his deputes may privily take vp dittay, be privy inquisition of malefactoures … be the aith of three … men

f. Of collops: That have been clandestinely or surreptitiously taken. — 1588 Burntisland B. Ct. 15 Oct.
Anent the blawine flesche … and bringinge off the hydis with the boukis to the marcat to be sauld with this additioun that no fillatis prywie collapis or stewing peicis be … cuttit out

g. Prevé box, ? a box for private or personal belongings. — 1572 Edinb. Test. II 255 b.
Ane previe box price xxxv s. … ane little flanderis coffer

h. Of door furniture and locks of private rooms.Unless attrib. uses of B 4.(1) 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 73.
For 2 pair privie dure bandis with all furnisching(2) 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 76.
For 12 keyis to the previe lockis in the abbay at 30 s. the pece 1629 Ib. 290.

i. Privé doublat. = secreit doublat, Secret adj. 1 l (2) and Secret n.².Cf. e.m.E. privy coat (of plate) (1523). 1600 Crim. Trials II 183.
And his majestie, seing the deponar, said, ‘Fy! Strik him laich, becaus he hes ane pryue doublat [ed. pyne dowlit; v.r. pyne doublat] upoun him’

4. Special applications of senses 2 and 3.a. Privy kirk, a name given to the Edinburgh congregation of the Reformed Church which met in secret before the establishment of the Reformed Church.b. Privé inquest. In some north-eastern burghs and in Shetland: An inquiry into the behaviour and honesty of the inhabitants of a place, with a view to banishing those found unworthy of continued residence, conducted by a group of inhabitants specially chosen to carry out the inquiry; also, the persons conducting the inquiry.c. Privé censure. Inquiry by the members of a church court of the Presbyterian Church into the conduct of each other, as a regular procedure. (Also in the later dial.).a. 1561 in Knox II 151.
The ordour of the electioun of elderis and deaconis in the privie kirk of Edinburgh … quhen as yet thair was no publict face of a kirk … bot secreit and privie conventiounis in houses or in the feilds Ib.
Of the principalls of thame that wer knowne to be men of … honest fame in the privy kirk wer chosen elders and deacones to reull with the minister in the publike kirkb. 1562 Inverness Rec. I 94.
That thai desyr all the heritouris of this burgh … expell all vnlefull tennentis that beis thocht sua be ane priway inqueist 1569–70 Aberd. B. Rec. I 367.
The maist pairt of the personis of the privay inquest quhilkis war chosine and sworne obefoir to delait all syk personis as ar insufficient … to remaine in this burght comperit in presens of the prowest [etc.] 1576 Orkney Oppress. 45 (see Granderie n.). 1585 Forres B. Ct. 29 Nov.
Ane prevay inqueist to be tane vp … vpone nyburis … of this town … of grett misordur and stouthe within the said toun 1593 Aberd. B. Rec. II 85.
Certefeing all sic … quhais forme and tred of leving sall not be tryit to be honest … that thay … sall be convict be ane previe inquest as onlaufull nichtbouris, and banischit this burgh as defamit persones 1605 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 49.
The sessioun referris the said Katherine to be censured be the privie inquest and to be judgit be thame if sche be a lauchfull nichtbour or notc. 1649 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 75.
That presbetries be carfull to be accurat in censuring … and that ther privie censure before the Synod bee not slightlie passed over as for the most pairt thay ar 1678 Dunkeld Presb. II 44.
The brethren removed to privy censure … Mr. William Moncreiff 1691 Cramond Kirk S. III 23 April.
The session appoints the privy censures to be had and enquired after, among the members of the session, befor the celebration of the communion 1701 Dunkeld Presb. II 19.]
[The Presbytrie also appoints that they shall observe privie censur for the future, according to the Act of Assembly

5. a. Pertaining to the monarch in his personal, not his public or official, capacity. c1575 Balfour Pract. 270.
Fre fra all taxatiounis … raisit for ony commoun cause concerning the weill of the realme, or ony uther privie cause concerning the prince alanarlie 1610 Red Bk. Grandtully I 110.
Sir William Stewartt … gentill mane of his maiesteis moist honorabill privie chalmer 1622 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 143.
For ane new lock and tua keyis to the privie gardene 1635 Sutherland Bk. II 160.
Schir Robert Gordone, gentleman of his majesties priwie schalmer

b. Privé writing, letter.A personal or quasi-personal missive from the sovereign by which he intervened in normal legal or official processes, conferred special grants or privileges, over-ruled existing rights, or the like. = Kingis letter etc., Letter n. 6, 7 b. 1554 Acts Sederunt i 55.
That scho wald haue justice done, nochtwithstanding at ony prive wreitingis gevin or to be gevin in stope and hyndering of justice 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 513.
Throw certane previe writtingis purchest of hir majestie 1572–3 Canongate Ct. Bk. 445.
Nochtwithstanding ane previe writting purchasit at my lord regent grace handis direct to the said baillie in the contrar berand 1582 Perth Guildry MS 450.
According to anciente liberites … nochtwithstanding ony preway lettir giffin … in the contrar 1585 Conv. Burghs I 203.
Thatt all previe wrytingis and giftis purchest … salbe maid … of na effect 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV 627.
To purches … the same guidis be sum prevey letter or charge to be purchest of his hienes

c. See Privé Counsaill, Privé Sele.(1) 1375 Barb. i 544.
Iulius Cesar … wes … Throw thaim of his consaill preue Slayne … to the ded Ib. 603.
The kyng [of England] sat into parleament And forouth hys consaile preue [Wynt. (R.) Before his cownsalle thare priwe] The lord the Bruce thar callyt he Ib. xi 277. c1420 Wynt. viii 6928.
Apon the morn, qwhen he [David Bruce] Suld wend till his cownsall prewe [W. preve](2) 1533 Acts Sederunt (1790) i 14.
And that nane of our selis gret, preve nor signet, ansuer na sic respitt or remissioune 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 35.
Unto the tyme the Capitane may haif the prive and greit seill raissit in dew form upon the saidis remissioun and infeftment 1606 (1621) Acts IV 616/2.

6. a. Intimate. b. Privé nedis, one's intimate physical needs. 1375 Barb. v 566 (E).
In a cowert that wes prewe Quhar the king oft wes went to ga His prewe nedys for to ma 1456 Hay II 96/26.
It efferis wele till a prince to be servit with lele servandis till his privee and hamely officis of his secretis

c. With various nouns: The private parts, the genitalia.See also Member n. 1 b. a1400 Leg. S. ii 734.
Law … forbedis, That ony chyld … Suld defowle the modir that hym fed Of hir wame in the preue sted c1420 Wynt. iii 866.
Thaire prewa [C. prewe, W. preve] gere That betwene thaire lymys stude c 1420 Liber S. Marie de Calchou 450.
Gif the mater aper in the ouermar [pr. -inar] syde be syde the priue tyngis blede of the fute on the samyn syd 1533 Boece 330.
His privy membris [L. virilia] be the filth and corrupcioun rottit a1586 Lindsay MS 45.
Cham … skornit his rycht fader Noe of his privie memberis

7. Of persons. a. Hidden and silent. b. That can keep a secret or keeping secrets, restrained of one's tongue, reticent.Appar. only Sc., in early verse. Cf. 3 d above and Prively adv. 1 b.a. 1375 Barb. iv 382 (E).
Thai thocht to hald thaim all prewe [C. preue] Till that [etc.] Ib. viii 51.
Then held thai thaim still & preue Ib. x 587, etc. Ib. xvii 64.
At ewyn thow sall enbuschit be In Dwns park, bot be preue Ib. 71.
The marchell … held his spek preue and still Quhill [etc.]b. a1400 Leg. S. xxx 161.
Wil thu priue be & hele the thing I sal tel thé? c1420 Wynt. vi 472.
A burges dochtyr, and hys ayre, Pryve [C. Prewe], plesand, and rycht fayre a1500 Henr. III 90/24.
Preis thé with pane at all poweir Be patient and previe a1568 Mersar Bann. MS 213 a/5.
First to be courtes wyis gentill and fre Lairge honest gentill bayth secreit and preve

c. Of the inhabitants of a town: Silent, quiet, having retired to rest. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 731 (C).
Quhen Symeon persaved … The Troyiens all … One slepe and all the toune pryve [D. preve], Inne hye of hys hors ysshed he

8. Participating in the knowledge of something private or secret, privately cognizant of, or accessory to, something not generally known. Also const. of, in, to (unto) (a secret etc.).(a) 1560 Bk. Disc. 205.
That als weill the gentilmen, as burgesses of everie diocese, be maid privie … to the electioun of the superintendent Ib. 226.
Yf thair be contraversie amangis thame selfis, the whole churche must be made privie 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II 326.
This farre I will mak your honour pryvei of 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 121. 1591–2 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 168.
With sic others as ar suspect to be privye and upon the complot 1603 Ellon Presb. 45.
Until sche mak her housband privie thairoff c1650 Spalding I 224. a1651 Calderwood II 316.
That the king was partaker or privie to the last fact(b) c1420 Wynt. viii 4978.
And for the Mwntagw he send … for that tyme he Wes mast off his cownsell prewe [C. prewe, W. preve, L. Wes of his consaill maist priue] 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 138.
Sibilla … Is clepit a maid of goddis secret preve 1559 in Knox II 25.
We dar nott … mak the whole assemblie … prevy in this cause 1561 Cal. Sc. P. I 589.
To mislyke these things wheronto they be not prevey 1567 Acts III 27/2.
That scho was preuie, airt and pairt, of the … murthour 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 105. 1567 Inv. Q. Mary lvii.
Margaret Carwood quha wes preuie and ane helper of all thair lufe 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 24.
Certane uther that wer preuie to the same 1573 Cal. Sc. P. IV 628. 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 92.
Without his majestie be first maid prevey 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 211.
Preuey

B. absol. as noun, and noun. 1. a. One's intimates, confidants, or close advisers, collectively. b. An intimate, a close friend. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1019.
Than … sad he To thaim that vare is maste priwe: ‘To me [etc.]’ ?1438 Alex. ii 2661.
And gif thare wrath be or deray Mak him ȝour freind and ȝour preue [: be]

2. That which is private or secret to one (here, God); one's ‘secret’.fig. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1132.
For Godis priue deme ma nocht

3. In privé. In private, in concealment, in secret, covertly.In legal formulæ coupled with Apert adj. and n. 4, Pert adj., n. and adv. B, qq.v. for further examples.(1) a1500 Seven S. 989.
And it is lak till ony man Bot in preve it is fer maire To fische a caus heir or thare 1567 Sat. P. vii 3.
Twa leirnit men in privie I hard talk(2) 1447 (1449–50) Reg. Great S. 68/2.
[He] sal … never … revoke … the said deliverance in prive or in appert 1463 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i p. 490 (26 Oct.).
That thai wist neuer in preve na in a pert the scath of a [but] of malvisy 1472 Lennox Mun. 87. 1495 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 596.
In prewey nor in pert be ony maner of waye [etc.] 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 192.
Never to be seyn in cumpany wyth Jhon Symson in prevy nor in part 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 652.
In previe or apart 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 23 May.
In word or deid directlie nor indirectlie in priuie or apert publiklie or priuatlie(3) 1535 Stewart 25324.
He hes in mynd … in Britane to remane, Quhair plesis ȝow in previe or in plane

4. A private place of ease, a latrine, a privy. Privé hous, ? id.Cf. med. L. camera, domus, sella privata (12th, 13th c. in Latham), and privata, priveta (a 1200–c 1450 in Latham).(1) c1420 Wynt. iii 54.
His famyle thare … That was the chambure than wytht out Wende the kyng had syttand bene On the priwe 1533 Boece 137 b.
His mutulate carioun … was castin in ane vile privye [L. cloacam] 1584–5 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 392. 1585 Ib. 414.
Priveis 1657 Balfour Ann. I 6.
Priuey(b) 1375 Barb. v 558 (E).
For to rys arly … Quhen he wald pas to the prewe [C. preue] And sek a cowert him allane c1420 Wynt. vi 1730.
Quhen that the kyng to the prewe Yhed for to do thare hys ese a1500 Seven S. 912. 1560 Old Dundee II 237.
Into the prevy, Ane stuill of aise 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 174.
Dry preveis c1580-90 Rules of Health 1.
Abstene … fra all maner corruptit aire … as of preveis, caryonis [etc.] 1594 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 533.
For making passage to the preveis in the ministeris clos 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. V 290. 1602–3 Ayr B. Acc. 217.
[For a barrel to make] ane dry previe [in the Tolbooth, 15 s.] 1622-6 Bisset II 166/20. Ib. 166/30.(c) 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II 341.
Ane geblet doir within ewerie hous to serve for a preivie to the samen … with ane small spout in ilk chalmer to convoy the vrine throch the wall(2) 1576 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming MS 161.
Ane prewey hows with ane portall and dur with bandis

b. The contents of a latrine. 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III 191.
And if any privie be castin doune on the streitis or wnder staires Ib.
The servand fund giltie of casting out suche privies to be joggit

c. Appar., a chamber pot. 1568 Edinb. Test. I 169.
Ane stra chiar with the privie thairin for the chalmer

d. Previe stule, ? the seat in a latrine. 1582 Treas. Acc. MS 88 b.
Sex elnis lynning to the previe stuile

C. adv. Privately, secretly; in hiding or seclusion.(1) 1454 Douglas Chart. 384.
Or ony … demand be movit … stilly or lowde, preve or pert 1485 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. v 321.
That … will goo among them prevy or peart for his propre besynes(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Twa Mar. W. 273 (M).
I haitit him lyk ane hund thocht I it hid preuie [Ch. & M. preue] c1590 J. Stewart 18/132.
It vas priuie situat betueine, And circuat, so that it mycht skairs be seine