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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.

Pillé, Pilli(e, Pilȝie, v. Also: pilley, pyllie, -é, pilye, pylȝe. [F. piller (repr. late L. *piliāre for L. pilāre to deprive of hair (L. pilus), whence prob. Pill v., Pele v.¹).]Common between 1570 and 1610.

tr. a. To rob, plunder, despoil (a ship or those sailing with or in it).Also const. of cargo or possessions.(1) 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 225.
To … seik the schippis that pyllijt the Scottis schippis 1557 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 305.
Thair is sindrie Scottismen and thair schippis … stayit haldin spowlȝeit and pilleit [ed. pillest] in Ingland be Inglismen 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 236.
He nor nane to be liftit be him … in thair passing to Swaden sall not invade troubill pilye nor tak geir fra ony the subjectis of this realme 1575 Conv. Burghs I. 44.
Pilleitt 1577 Ib. 49.
Pylleit 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 308.
Quhen thair schippis and guidis wer pilleit thay offerit thamselffis ready to … withstand the pyrattis 1581–2 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 229. 1582 Treas. Acc. MS. 117 b. 1588 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 615.
Pilleyit 1599 Acts IV. 190/2.
Pilleit 1599–1600 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 204. 1610 Crim. Trials III. 100.
Ȝe betuik ȝour selffis to that damnable tred of pirracie … pillieing and oppressing all maner of people(2) 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 424.
Our nichtbouris … quha ar laitlie pilleit of thair guidis be the Flissiners 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV. 615.
Certane … professouris of … The Halie League pilleit him of ane shippis laidning of … mercheandice

b. To rob or despoil (a person). c1590 Fowler II. 114/25.
A prince suld mak litill count provyding that … he spoyle not nor pyllie his subiects

c. To seize by piracy (chiefly) or robbery (goods or possessions). d. To steal or purloin from a maritime prize.Const. fra or from (the person), furth of or of (the ship).c. 1552 Dundee B. Ct. II. fol. 203 b (16 Dec.).
And … Villem protestit that his stik of clayth pilleit furthe of … Quhyttis schip ly nocht vnder this compt 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 308.
That all guidis quhilkis hes bene pilleit … be pyrattis fra the subjectis of this realme … salbe recompansit be ane … taxt to be tane alsweill of the schip and fraucht as of the remanent guidis that sal happin to be left unpilleit within the samin schip 1583 Ib. 591.
Gawen Hogsone wes … wardit be thame as ane of the intromettouris with certane guidis and geir within this realme quhilkis wer pilleit fra divers Franchemen freindis … of the same 1586 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV. 18.
The guids quhilk he schippett … wes pilleit furth thairof 1587–8 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 60.
For rigging furtht ane weir schip … to perseu Inglis pirattis that pilleit Scottis merchandis geir 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI. 14. 1610 Crim. Trials III. 100.d. c1575 Balfour Pract. 635.
That quhen ane prize is takin fra our soverane lord's enemies the takeris thairof … being as ȝit on the sea brekis the cofferis [etc.] … for to tak and pilȝie that quhilk thay may of the said prize 1622-6 Bisset II. 224/28.
The maryneris … to sweir that they sall nocht steill nor pylȝe [v.r. spylȝe] the guidis or buitting of prysis … bot the haill to be presented to the admirall