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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.

Pled-, Pleidabil(l, -able, a. Also: plead- and -abyll, -abile; -appill; -ibill. [Late ME. and e.m.E. pledable (1455), plead(e)able (16th c.), AF. pledable (1292), OF. plaidable that may be sued or pleaded (1304 in Greimas), f. plaidier Plede v.]

1. That may be sued. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 171.
For quhi that warand is nocht the part pledabil in the defence bot quhen he comperis as varand in court than he may be the part pledabil

2. Breve pledabil, see the quots. from Skene, Hope and Stair. c 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 51.
He aucht nocht to ga owte of his possession forowte the kyngis brefe pledabyll 14.. Acts I. 113/2. 1472 Lennox Mun. 87.
Be ony maner of breve pledibill na vnpledibill Ib. 88 (see Breve n.).
Pledabile 1486 Stirlings of Keir 256.
Pledappill c1500 Harl. MS. 4700 274 b.
The party followar sall optene seising as is contenit in the proces of brevis pledable 1503 Acts II. 254/1.
Pledabill 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Breves (pleadable).
Breves pleadable … ar all sik brieues quhilkis are persewed and defended be ane ordinar forme of proces before ane competent iudge at the instance of ane persewer against ane defender 1622-6 Bisset I. 286/14.
Pleidabill a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 56.
All breives ar pleadable to the quhilk a defender most be specialie sumoned sick as the breife of divisione, perambulation and of lyning 1681 Stair Inst. iv. iii. § 10 (1832) 575.
The brieves not retourable are four which are … precepts directed to sheriffs etc. who thereupon cite parties and hear and determine; and therefore they are called pleadable brieves; because particular parties are called specially, and not generally only at the market-cross