A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1631-1653
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Pryo(u)n, n. [Appar. Cornish pryan, prian clayey ground, clay, and in later Eng. dial. a mining term for gravelly earth or clay.] At Leadhills and Crawfordjohn, Lanarksh.: A mining term for spoil, excavated earth or clay, presum. introduced by Cornish miners. — 1631 Reg. Great S. 583/1.
Mineralia auri et argenti … cum lie ure et pryoun eorundem, infra ejus bondas terrarum et baronie de Craufurdjohne, vic. Lanerk 1653 J. Hope Diary 155.
The earth … lay all in litle heapes as if it had beene new coupped out of hurlebarrowes just as my pryon does about the schacht mouths when first taken out
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"Pryon n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pryoun>
