Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Pesabilly, Peceabilly, Peciabilly, adv. (a.). Also: pess-, pecc-, peis-, peic(e)-, pies-, pice-, pease-, peace-, pesi- and -abily, -abil(l)i(e, -abylly, -ably(e, -abli(e. [e.m.E. peaceably (1535): cf. Pesibilly and Paisabilly.]

1. adv. Peaceably, peacefully, in peace, without disturbance or challenge.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 231.
The [Clyffurd] sa pesabilly [E. pesabylly] Brukis and haldis the senȝory 1391 Floors Indenture 23 June.
Tyl … he haff joyssit the landis beforsaid four ȝer pessabili 1410–11 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I. 30.
Pessablie in possessioun of the said moir and land 1423 (1429–30) Reg. Great S. 31/2.
He sal joyse and use pesabylly the office of chancellary … of Annanderdale 1426 Coldstream Chart. 43.
Pessabilli 1449–50 Glasgow Chart. I. ii. 28.
To cum gang by and sell frely and pesabli 1456 Hay II. 15/23.
Sa that clerkis mycht pesably study in sciencis 1470 Reg. Panmure II. 246.
Pesably 1475 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 453.
In cas that I … may nocht … brouk pesably the said tenement … be vexacon of pley to be movit in tyme to cum 1476–7 Ib. No. 460.
It pessably till iois & bruk ay & quhill [etc.] 1480 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville) (Reg. H.).
Pessabily(b) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 249/22.
Conran … regnit xxxiiij ȝere peceably 1518 Peebles B. Rec. I. 46.
Peceabilly 1542 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. ix. 44.
Peceabillie a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. ci. 95.
Craftismen and commounis may peceablie Thair leving win without oppressioun 1593 Rec. Earld. Orkney 169.
To be peccabilli bruikit, joisit [etc.](c) 1489 Wemyss Chart. 113.
Pesiabli a1500 Bk. Chess 1021.
The men of weir … peciably maid him [Alexander] in Ynd to ryng 1518 Chart. Coupar A. II. 117.
Peciably 1521–2 Wemyss Chart. 149.
Peciabilly 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. fol. 125 b.
Peciablie 1533–4 Melville Chart. 73.
Thair daly hovssald seruandis … as thai vsit daly peciably to ryd 1538 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 201.
He and his ayris … sal peciabylly pan and fryst in and vpone the saidis twa gavillis frely 1560 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 55.
Quhair sche culd nevir have bruicked her awin lievin peciablie be raisin the saime lyes in sa brokin ane cuntrie 1567 G. Ball. 96.
Peciabillie 1568 Campbell Love-Lett. Mary 22.
Peciabiliie 1593–4 Douglas Bequest 23 Jan.
The teind schawis … to be peciablye … collectit … be the said Robert c1650 Spalding I. 86.
Haueing vsit thir seruice bookis peciablie … ilk Sabboth day Ib. II. 330.
Abirdein quhair he had entress peciablie Ib. I. 298.(d) 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I. 109.
Peisably 1499 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 625.
Indurand all & sindry the days & terme of nyneteyn ȝeris … peiceably as lawe wyll 1596 Dalr. I. 146 marg.
He diet peiceabillie 1608 Melvill 747.
That it [the Assembly] may be … peiceabilly keipit 1685 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 48.
Peicably(e) 1585 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 97.
To be … peaceablie brukit … be the said Mr. Robert 1596 Soc. Ant. IV. 157.
To renunce thair sirname and to leif peaseablie(f) 1663 Galloway P. 2 July.
To be piesably injoyed occupyed [etc.](g) 1610 Laing MSS. I. 123.
That I may the moir piceablie injoy my awin

2. adj. Peaceful; law-abiding. = Pesabill a. 3 (2). 1641 Acts V. (1817) 358/1.
My servandis war in ane most peceablie maner … for the tyme