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.

Pillage, n. Also: pil-, pyl- and -aige. [ME. and e.m.E. pilage (Gower), pyllage (1494), pillage (1513), F. pillage (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), f. piller Pillé, v.]

1. Booty, spoil, plunder, taken in war. Also plur. 1456 Hay I. 121/32.
All suld be at his will, prisonaris and pillagis, to part at his will c1475 Wall. vi. 517.
Tak no heid to ger nor off pylage Ib. 618. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 177/13 (Asl.).
Honour allway levis him that intendis to pillage and for proffet

b. spec. That share of the contents of a prize-ship due by law to the ordinary members of the ship's company which made the capture. 1557 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 5.
Anent the decerning of the fiche lynnis to pertene to the childer as pillage and the best anker and tow of ane prys pertene to the maister c1575 Balfour Pract. 639.
That thay [sc. seamen and soldiers] sall have all the spuilȝie and pillage of cleithing, harnes and wappinis of enemies quhilkis sall be takin be strenth in the saidis prizes Ib. 640.
That nathing may be said nor haldin for pillage quhilk exceidis the valour of ten crownis Ib.
Of all pillage the capitane, the master, the boatisman [etc.] … gettis na part nor buteing bot it sall be equallie dividit amang the remanent of the companie marineris [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II. 259/7.
Pilage 16.. Admir. Ct. Form 64.
Pillage is lowse things betuixt the deckes

2. To mak pillage, to treat the contents of a maritime prize as ‘pillage’ (prec. b) or lawful plunder. 1622-6 Bisset II. 226/23.
Næ thing salbe haldin pilaige that excedis the valoure of ten crownis, therefoir the maryneris makand pylaige … salbe punisched