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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.

Placard, Placat(t, n. Also: placarde, plackard, plac(k)art(e; placcat(t, plac(k)att, plakkat, placket(t, placad(e. [e.m.E. placard, placquart (1482), MF, plac(qu)ard, plac(k)art (1410); in sense 2 only, e.m.E. also plac(c)at, -aet (1589), MDu. plakaet, -aat, from the F.]

1. A sheet of paper written or printed on one side, suitable for public display; a poster, notice, handbill.(a) 1567 Acts II. 552/1.
Act anentis the makaris and vpsettaris of plackardes and billis Ib.
Placardes and billis and ticquettis of defamatioun sett vp vnder silence of nycht … to the sclander … of the quenis majestie 1567 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I. 576.
Placartes 1568 Ib. 540. 1568 Buch. Indict. 43.
For tryell of the placardeis prevelie set wp in accusatioun of the erlle Bothuell thair wes na paynis left 1600-1610 Melvill 125.
Ther was na thing bot affixing of plackarts upon the collage yett 1694 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV. 206.(b) a1605 Birrel Diary 8.
Ther wes [in 1567] daily placketts or challenges sett upone the abby yett of Holyroudhous 1670 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 19 Dec.
Plackatts 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 495.
The said Charles Lindsey caused some hyrelinges … to read … before the congregation then conveined placatts and paschalls most disgracefully 1678 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 23 Dec.
Appoynts the hous in Dynekeir to be rovped … and placatts put out accordinglie 1688 New Mills Manuf. 189.
Orders a roup … of … stocken frames and apoynts publick placads to be affixed 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 273.
Placcats 1691 Presbyterian Inquisition 41.
He writes and fixes a placade vpon the colledge gate, threatning to kill the regents 1692 Acts Sederunt ii. 199.
Placades

2. A document issued by an authoritative source, an official document. 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 582.
[I have received your lordship's letter and her majesty's] placard [thanking you for your] liberall travells

b. spec. A document conveying permission for some action (chiefly, the purchase of a horse), a licence, warrant. 1571 Cal. Sc. P. III. 615.
[A request to procure a] placket [of the Queen for transporting horses from England] 1572 Ib. IV. 373.
Seing samony horsses as I have loissit it had bene hard to persuade me that I suld have been refused of a placat 1574 Ib. V. 41, 62. 1577 Douglas Corr. 233.
[Please] send ȝour ȝoung hors with hym that I may se gif I lyk hym or nocht. Gif I pleis hym, thair salbe na danger to ȝow, seing I haif ane plakkat for ȝour warrand 1594 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 502.
(1) Plackard [for horses and how many. (2) How many horses to be given. (3) The order for the manner of the gift.] 1596 Ib. XII. 414.
Placards to the king for 12 horse, Blantyre for 2 horse, Lord Home for 2 horse, with leave to my master sometimes to give one to a friend — 1693 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV. 86.
About his removing from the park of Holyroodhouse. The lords thought his oath did not prove any overgiving nor yet any homologation of the placard and new tack set to Alexander Ramsay

c. A decree or edict of the States General in the Netherlands. 1586 Cal. Sc. P. VIII. 629.
That the placardis published be the generall estaitis … inhibiting the transporte of all victuallis eist of the Seine, may be revokit on the part of Scottish subjectis 1676 Conv. Burghs III. 702.
Under the paine enjoyned to the inhabitants by the publict placcatts of this land [sc. Netherlands]