Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Peling, Peil(l)in(g, vbl. n. Also: pelyn; peel(l-, peal-; pail-. [Pele v. Cf. e.m.E. peeling rind (1597), rare in other senses till after c 1650; also e.m.E. pilling.] The action of Pele v. ¹ (to rob; to peel; to unpack, separate into smaller packages). Also attrib. with iron.For the collocation pakking and peling, see Pakking vbl. n. 2.(1) ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 70.
And the said heavin is quiet for fostering of thieves … till await upon the pailing and spuilȝeing of poor mens geir 1684 Hay Fleming Six Saints II. 226.
Of death and banishments, … pealings and plunderings of the people of God(2) 1535 Acts II. 343/2.
All distroyaris of grenewod be cutting, peling, byrnyng or felling and siclike of all new hanyngis 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 279.
The woddis … ar swa decayit … be the peling of the bark of the standand treis 1620 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 241.
Peilling, cutting and raiffing of Jon Leyth of Newtoun his woods, bogis and burnes 1632 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 5 Apr.
To … purge thame selffis anent thair cutting and peilling of the tymmer and wood within the woodis of Boquhastell 1634 Ib. 13 Feb.
For thair cutting, peiling, burning, felling and distroying of my lordis wodis(3) 1647–8 Dumbarton Common Gd. Acc. 160.
For peiling and caiseing the townes daills(4) attrib. 1668 Edinb. Test. LXXIII. 171.
Ane skrapell and ane pealing iron