Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Phise, Phese, Pheise, Phease. [Varr. of Fize n.² Cf. MDu. vise, vijs(e a screw, from OF. vis id., whence ME. and e.m.E. vys(e, vyce, vice (14th c.) a device involving the use of a screw, a screw, etc. and cf. modern Sc. dial. feeze a twist, turn.] a. ? A device, operated by screws, for mounting a cannon or attaching a cannon to its stock; ? a type of vice or clamp operated by turning a screw. b. ? A mechanical device used in warehouses; ? a type of screw-operated hoist.In sense b, appar. only in Aberdeen.a. a 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 169.
Item tua pair of uther pheses for mounting of artailyearie 1581 Mar & Kellie MSS. 35.
Ane pair of phises to mount and dismount ordinance beattrib. a 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 255.
Thre pair of phises gammis. Ane uther pair wanting hir blokb. 1636–7 Misc. Spald. C. V. 150.
For ane mutchkin of oyll to the pheises 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 272.
The old barrowis and pheasses of the pack hous ar ordanit to be [etc.] 1642 Ib. 282.
Pheissis 1645 Ib. IV. 46.
The tounes commoun packhous … roupit … with the pheisses and [etc.] Ib.
And siclyke vphaulding sufficientlie vpon his owne charges and expenssis the great pheisses with the pheisses stangs and nets thairof dureing the said space Ib. 51.
To speik any of the Flanders merchands for bringing home of tua stangs and aucht sufficient nutes [pr. mites] for the pheissis in the packhouse