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.

Playar, -er, n. Also: -are; plaar. [ME. and e.m.E. pleier, pleyer, -are, plaier, player, e.m.E. also plear, OE. pleᵹere, f. pleᵹan Play v.¹] A player, in various usual senses.

1. a. One who takes part in a game. b. One who wagers on its outcome; a gambler. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3757.
Cassamus … by the playeris lenit him syne 1468 Peebles B. Rec. I. 159.
Quhat nychtbur that rasettis playaris at the dys [etc.] a1500 Bk. Chess 1980.
Thir hasatouris and playaris at the dys, Harlottis thai ar and fulis a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xiv. 25.
Be na dysar nor playar at the cairtis Bot gif it be for pastyme and small thing 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 167.
The playeris in the linkis and at the kyillis during the time of the sermones 1615 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 140.
Some of this pairishe, players at the football … , wha … played efter the efternoon sermon … compeirit

2. A performer or actor. Also possess. in playaris hous.(1) 1488 Treas Acc. I. 91.
To … the playaris of Lythgow that playt to the King 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 353.
A playare figurit payntit and representit a prince … sad and pensif 1518 Perth Hammermen 3.
To the playaris upone Corpus Christie day 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 197.
Plaaris Ib. 198.
For the … paynting of … the playaris facis 1562-3 Winȝet II. 42/9.
Quhen the playar of a tragedie præsentis the persoun of a preist or of a king [etc.] 1563 Ferg. Answer 15 b.
Where are ye commanded to dissagyse your selues lyke players … with shauen crownes [etc.] 1577 Perth Kirk S. MS. 23 Aug.
Ane of the nwmer of … Corpus Christeis playeris 1596 Dalr. I. 213/7.
Gladlier he hanted with playeris in interludes than with honest men 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 91.
Ludius, a player of interludes(2) 1553–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 110.
Payit for the … playaris hous, the jebbettis and skaffauld about the samyn

3. One who plays on (upoun) a musical instrument. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 149.
To the four playerris on the veolis 1566 Ib. XII. 31.
To James Heroun, playar upoun the pipe and quhissill