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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.

Pris(e, Prys(e, Price, Prize, n.³ Also: pryss(e, pryis(e, pryese, pryce, pryze. [ME prise, pris (14–15th c.), price (c 1430), e.m.E. prise, pryse, later also prize (1596), pryze (1608), F. prise, as Prise n.²]

1. A ship captured by virtue of the rights of war or by authority of letters of marque (see Mark n.³⁾; a prize taken at sea. Also comb. with -schip. 1492–3 Acta Conc. I 291/1.
Ane actioun … tuiching the half of the thrid parte of a schip callit a pris 1522 Aberd. B. Rec. I 99.
The gudis … inbrocht one ane Hollanderis bodum, allegit to be ane Franchman price, aucht … to be arrestit to the said merchandis challance 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I 212.
To by fra thame sic prises and gudis in thame as alienaris happenis to bring in in tyme of weir 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 141.
That thar com twa Bartanaris on your cost and had tayne any pryis of Porttergayll 1546 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 123.
The pryces of the victualls … laitlie cum in be the pryses takin be the Cristopher 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 179.
To Mawnis Toures, send to the Brynt Ylande to arreist James Humes price 1548–9 Ib. 293. 1549 Ib. 311. 1549 Compl. 41/2.
Mony pricis 1550 Reg. Privy S. IV 117/2.
Prysis 1550 Treas. Acc. IX 465, etc.
Pris 1554 Ib. X 224.
To lous the arrestment maid upoun the Franche price of tymmer 1557–8 Crim. Trials I i 401.
Pryssis 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. 69.
That thai … apprehendit and tuke ane Inglis prys callit [etc.] … quhilk aucht and suld be decernit to pertene to thame be ressoun of weir standand betuix this realme and the realme of Ingland c1575 Balfour Pract. 630.
Prizes 1622-6 Bisset II 225/6.
Partaige of cleithing [etc.] … being in prysis Ib. 224/9. 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 280.
Pryese 1666 Laing MSS I 348.
Pryssecomb. 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I 213.
The pris schip and gudis now laitlie taken be the Franchemen and brocht in the havyn … of Leith 1673 Ib. X 144.
The pryze shipp takine be Capitan Winster

b. Also said of a ship captured or stolen by pirates: cf. 3 b.Also ? said of the goods captured by pirates, in plur. in coll. sense.(1) 1572 Crim. Trials I ii 37.
And eftir selling of the saidis stollin gudis he … past away with the schip and pryise quhairin the saidis gudis wer takin … vnto the raid of Abirdene 1610 Ib. III 100.
And siclyk tuik the said Dutche schip quhilk ȝe brocht with ȝow as ane pryse to Ireland laidnit with [etc.] Ib. 110.
And at last patt him in the pryise Ib. 111.
Pryise(2) a1578 Pitsc. II 316/9.
Thair was ten or xij Inglismen quha war pirattis taine at Montrois with thair pryceis and brocht to Leith and thair var hangit

c. To make (a ship or ships) prize (prises), to capture or make liable to capture, as a prize or prizes. To make prize of (a ship's contents), to treat as prize. 1558-66 Knox I 110.
King Hary … denunced warr, maid our schippis pryses and [etc.] 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 226.
They had alreddie melled with a ship of Glasgow, had slayne some of the equippage and made pryse of her loadning 1624 Aberd. Council Lett. I 232.
Thair is … edictis gevin out at command of the King of Spain … that all merchand schippes tredding to the United Provinces salbe maid pryis 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 273.
In respecte they had takin a shipe of his and made her pryce

2. Men or goods captured in war from the enemy. Also fig.But the fig. example is perh. intended for Pris(e n.¹ 8 c (prize in a competition). a1578 Pitsc. I 53/33.
They … herreit nocht onlie the bischopis landis bot also the haill landis adiacent thairto and brocht great pryssis of goodis out of Fyfe unto Angus Ib. 72/8.
Witht great pryce of men and goodis Ib. 124/3.
And brunt willagis tounis and cornes sa mekill thairof as might nocht goodlie be cairit away by the great pryse and goodis 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 575.
All other baggage, armes and horses, sould be bootie and prise to the victor 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 55.
For after we had got our paiks They took us every one as prizesfig. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxiii 47.
Thow thinkis thow hes obteind a pray In that a pecok thow hes taine, … A pray thow gat, a prys of wourth

3. a. Of a captured ship, also of its contents: (To be) lauchfull or just (= legally or justifiably seized) prise.Also, less commonly, with indefin. art. or in plur.(1) 1522 Aberd. B. Rec. I 100.
Quhill thai get a souer certification of the lordis quhidder gif the said schip was lauchtfull price or nocht 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 102.
The samin schip and gudis suld be furth-cummand as law wauld, in caise scho wer nocht fund just prise 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. 69.
The jugeis decernit the foirsaid schip and guddis and personis being thairintill to be just and lauchfull prys to the takaris thairof 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 162. c1575 Balfour Pract. 635.
Of all prizes that sall be takin in the sea … under colour … of weir or utherwayis, at the leist twa or thre prisoneris thairof … sall be … presentit to the admiral … to the effect that he may perfectlie knaw the realme … quhairof thay are and to quhom the shippis [etc.] … dois appertene and thairby mak cognitioun gif the samin be just prize or not c1650 Spalding II 340.
Whill the pryss of hering war restoirit as his lauchfull pryze takin from the Danes(2) 1622-6 Bisset II 222/7.
Anent knawlege of schipis that be iust prisis or nocht Ib. 227/11.
Befoir the admirall … declair the prysis to be iust 1627 Insh Colonial Schemes 102.
Declaring her to be a laughful pryse

b. (? Erron.) said of a ship alleged to be legally forfeit to the Admiral as a pirate: cf. 1 b. 1578 Corr. M. Lorraine 445.
In respect she is a pyrattis schip bocht fra a pyrat, na doubt she is lauchfull prise and aucht to appertene unto ws as admirall

c. Also said (once) of captured goods or prisoners on land. 1543 Acts & Decr. I 510 b.
Schip be se & gudis presoneris be land beand taikin befor the weir begyn or in bringling [sic] of weir being schortlie thaireftir viij dayis eftir the schip and gudis being taking is lauchtfull prise