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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.

Placebo, n. [ME. (Ancr. R. in sense 1, Chaucer in sense 2) and OF. placebo, L. placēbo ‘I shall be pleasing’.]

1. The name given to Vespers in the Office for the Dead, from the opening word of the Latin liturgy.For examples, 1445 — Stewart, see Dirigé n. 1 and Latany n. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 706.
And we sall … about ȝour sepulture … deuotely saye … The auld Placebo bakwart

2. The vice of sycophancy, personified. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 189 (B).
Gif me ane drink Placebo my bruder 1558-66 Knox III. 177.
But now thay haif bene at the scule of Placebo, and … hes lernit to dance as the devill list to pype 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Prol. 78.
Plaing Placebo into princes faces Ib. 744.
Placebois part behind his bak Vnto the people this he spak

b. A sycophant, flatterer, servile hanger-on.Also comb. with -boy. 1558-66 Knox I. 37.
The bischop of Brechin, having his placeboes and jackmen in the toun Ib. II. 404.
Hir placeboes [MS. 1566, hir placebo boyis] gaif thair plaudite Ib. 412. 1594 Colville Lett. 120.
[A poem] maid by sum placebo to flatter our king