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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.

Pleying, vbl. n. Also: plea- and -inge. [Pley v.] The action of pleaing, in various senses of Pley v.

1. a. The taking of legal action on (of) an issue. b. The suing (of a person) for (of) a right or thing. c. The making of a plea in a court of law. d. The prosecution of a cause.a. 1480 Acta Conc. I. 69/2.
Andro … trublit him … be pleyinge of the richt of his tak 1600-1610 Melvill 452.
In awatting on plattes and pleying of stipendsb. 1494 Acta Conc. I. 325/2.
For the … wrangwis pleying & persewing of thaim … for ane annuale of iniurec. 1532 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 377.
Anentis proces and formalite to be kepit be advocatis in pleying befor the lordis etc.]d. 1563 Reg. Privy C. I. 239.
All expensissis maid in … pleying of the said caus

2. Quarrelling; disturbing the peace. 1600 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 215.
All unlawis incurrit … for pleying mispersoning iniurring or bludevict 1606 Dundonald Par. Rec. 106.
Accuisit of prophaning of the Sabboth be pleying in Williame Petticruife his hous 1667 Cullen Kirk S. 18 Aug.
Anent … her cursing and pleying 1724 Cramond Ch. Fordyce 70.
Such a pleaing and feighting that one man was killed