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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLEEN, v., n. Also plene, plean, plain; archaic forms plenzie, plenyie, plainyie. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. ‡plain. See P.L.D. § 110. [plin, ′pliŋi]

I. v. 1. To complain, grumble (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, plene); to lament, mourn, make moan, whine. Obs. or dial. in Eng.Sc. 1711 J. Watson Choice Coll. iii. 50:
Of a' our Store we need not Plenzie.Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 116:
Why dost thou pleen? I thee maintain, For meal and mawt thou disna want.s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 326:
Quo' Robin, Sirs, how last ye baith? Quo' Sim, I darna plean o' skaith.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 429:
Their wee, starved spirits were heard yeaing an' pleening through a' the blasts o' winter.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xxvi.:
“It would be the wind”, plained her mother.

II. n. A complaint, an objection, an expression of dissatisfaction or dissent. Arch. See also Pleengie and note.Sc. 1814 Scott Lord of Isles iv. ix.:
The warrior-threat, the infant's plain The mother's screams, were heard in vain.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 107:
He spak, and instant a' the senzie Did ratifie it without plenzie.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. xvii.:
It isna a sma' maitter tae won in monasteries or in a commonty, an' tae leeve thar athoot plainyie.