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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.

Plant, v. Also: plannt, planct, plaunt(e, playnt, plent. P.p. plantit etc. and plantith, plant. [ME. plant(i)e(n, plaunte(n, plonte(n, OE. plantian, F. planter (12th c.), L. plantāre.]

1. tr. To plant (a growing thing, as a seed, tree, wood or the like); also, to set (a graft). Also absol. 1457 Acts II. 51/1.
That … tenandis plant woddis and treis c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiv. 14.
I wald mak to plant his rute agane 1513 Doug. vii. iii. 66.
Fader Sabinus That first the wyne tre plantit 1535 Acts II. 343/2.
That … euery tennent … plant … for euery mark land ane tree a1568 Montg. Bann. MS. I. p. 51/8.
For he salbe lyk to ane tre That planctit by the rynnyng revar growis a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 358.
As … ane imp ingraft in ane tre, sa thou mon be planted and ingrafted in Him 1654 Lamont Diary 79.
I planted some elme kies in the garden yeardabsol. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 25/3.
Cephas maye plaunte & Apollo maye uatter but [etc.]

b. fig. To implant, introduce (a virtue or belief). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 32/35.
This hevinly sang … plantis jn ws the vij wertuis that [etc.] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 778.
The sound of thair excellent sanctitude Was hard … Plantyng the faith be predicatioun 1571 Sat. P. xxvi. 15.
[The Lord] Syne in this realme plantit His gospel trew, But scheding blud

c. intr. Of seedlings: To sprout. Also fig. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 403.
Polyce and peace begynnis to plant, That verteous men can no thyng want 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 76.
After the same [beirland] hath been till'd … and the weeds begin to plant, as their phrase is, they sow it

2. To place in position, to install, erect, insert, set doun.(1) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1132.
The squyer … Plantit the baner ouir the wall 1596 Dalr. I. 75/14.
Thay proponed thair to plant a stable and sure … duelling place 1603 Moysie 115.
[The king] causit bring sum peices out of the castell and planted thame abone the lipperhouse 1608 Kinghorn Kirk S. 12.
Be seats planting therein 1683 Inv. in Donibristle Mun. 4.
Six fyn pictures planted in the lyning of the roume(2) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1239, 1240.
[They] plantit doun thair tentis and palȝonis Syne plantis standartis Ib. 2883.
And thair but mare thai plant thair pavillionis doun a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 229. 1513 Doug. viii. x. 20. c1578 Reid Swire 28.
Be this our folks hes tane the fell And planted down palliones their to byde

b. To found, institute (an institution). c 1620 Sutherland Bk. II. 345.
Plant schooles in ewerie corner of the countrey 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 236.

c. fig. To establish, settle, fix, in non-material senses. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 452.
Suthfaste hirdis that has thé [sc. Rome] Playntit in hewine reme to be Bettir and happliare a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 530 (Asl.).
O princis [etc.] … In wardlie wrak plantand ȝour plesans 1535 Stewart 17995.
The faith of Christ amang the pepill to plant a1568 Bann. MS. 234 b/62.
Praying the Lord of pety … To plant in ȝow ane petifull hairt and mynd 1562-3 Winȝet I. 7/10.
Quhat ellis is it bot to plant but rutis of ordour, ane manifest confusion … of this realme 1596 Dalr. II. 91/22.
[Often requested] that the metrapolitan … authorite in S. Androis sould be planted … [consented that it] be changet fra Ȝork to S. Androis 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 41/9.
Conscience … is … the licht of knauledge that Godd hes plantid in man Ib. 70/11, 71/2.
[Continue] plaunting colonies amongst thame of aunserable inlandis subiects that … maye roote thaime out & plaunte ciuilitie in thaire roumes 1616 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 23.
That the vulgar Inglishe toung be universallie plantit and the Irishe language … be abolisheit

3. To station or post (a military force etc.) in some position. b. reflex. c1420 Wynt. viii. 3818.
The Kyng off Ingland … Plantyd a sege abowt Berwyk 1513 Doug. xi. viii. 29.
Our fais beyn not far from hens to seik, Bot plant about the wallis of our town a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 147.
Chosen men were plantit to ding up durres and bring out prisonerisb. 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III. 77.
Ane few disloyall subjectis … inhabiting … the oppositive wardanrie havand plantit thame selffis upoun ane west ground [made forays] c1615 Chron. Kings 136.
Captane James Stewartt … com with all his freindis and planttit him selff about the king agane 1698 Maxwell Mem. II. 347.
Man, wife, lad and lass … sat down and planted themselves in the midst of my peats

4. To install or establish (a person) in residence, to settle. Also reflex.(1) 1567 G. Ball. 158.
In Paradice I plantit thé 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii. 89.
In ȝour tolbuth sic presouneris to plant 15.. Black Bk. Taymouth 158.
Forsuith in Braidalbane Yon theif is with mony lymmer plantit 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 371.
To … hald thame … furth of the saidis landis … and plant and place trew men to dwell thairin 1601 Conv. Burghs II. 116.
That thai [cloth makers] ar to be brocht in and plantet vpoun the expenssis of the haill burrowes(2) reflex. 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI. 565.
[He] obtenit laufull possessioun … and plenteit himselff and his servandis thairintill 1606 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 3 Jan.
The multitude of beggars … dois … incress … be incoming of pure folkis … & takin up hows & planting thame selfis as inhabitants of the toun

b. To install or place (a person) in some office or position. Also reflex.(1) 1597 Crawford Mun. Invent. II. 209.
Bot planting of men about the king is noth esie … specialie of sik quhais competitors is alredie plantit c1650 Spalding II. 4.
The Lord Sinckler … dischargeit him, and plantit his awin lauchfull brother … in his place(2) reflex. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 32.
To distroy the rycht successioun and plant thame selffis in that rowme

c. In the post-Reformation Church: To appoint (a minister) to a charge. 1564–5 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 526/1.
To paye the stipendis of the ministeris plantit within the boundis foirsaidis 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 228. 1573 Sat. P. xlii. 388.
Thair suld be plantit throw this land At euerie kirk … Ane preichour 1576 Reg. Privy S. VII. 438/1.
To se the ministrie plantit in all kirkis 1599 Gunn Traquair Church 5.
A supplication … desiring to have him planted there as their minister 1633 Old Ross-shire i. 33.
Mr. Wm. Ross … is now … plantit at the kirk of Nig

d. To appoint (a schoolmaster). 1628 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 20.
That their be painful maisteres … planted in euerie scoole 1658 Grant Chart. 344.
The parochiners … not being able to plant or prowyd for anie schoolmaister

e. In St. Andrews: To introduce (rabbits) to form a warren. 1552 St. A. Links 103.
Reserveing … possessioun … als weill quhair the saidis cuniggis salbe plantit … as utheris pairtis of the saidis linkis 1612 Acts IV. 517/2.
Libertie … to the said archiebischop to plant and place conyngis and clappers within the Linkis 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 126.

5. To implant throughout the surface of, to set in this way (a place or thing) with, (full) of (something); also fig. to stock or fill (a person) full of.(1) a1497, 15.. Gray MS. iv. 37.
My wyne ȝard I planntit thé Full of gude sawr and suetenes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1289.
The erth … Plantit with precious treis of pryce(2) c1450-2 Howlat 341 (A).
The burde with orient perle plantit c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1859.
His scheild was all plantit with diamantis 15.. Clar. iv. 957.
Hir belt was all of michtie stounis plantit a1578 Pitsc. I. 252/10.
He will sie the length and breid of hir [sc. the Great Michael] planttit witht hathorne(3) c1475 Wall. vi. 345.
Thai playntyt thar feild with tentis a1500 Lanc. 2498.
Arthur … ful of lugis plantith haith the feld(4) fig. c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 277 b/54.
Ladeis ar plantit full of purite

b. To stock (a piece of land) with trees or plants. Also absol. c1600 Pont in Paterson Ayr & Wigton III. ii. 524.
Knock is a pretty dwelling, seatted one the mane occeane, and veill planted 1663 Forbes Baron Ct. 243.
That they who hes planted yardis or till plant, that they sall plant thair yarndes 1685 Musselburgh 128.
To plant with trees and fence the peace of marish ground [etc.]

6. tr. To furnish or stock (a place) with inhabitants; to settle, people. Also absol. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 76/16.
The scripture sais that God him self plauntit it [sc. Paradise]: the man was … put in it a1538 Abell 39 b.
He plantit Armonik with Britonis & callit it Les Britane 1624 Reg. Privy C. XIII. 649.
[Nova Scotia] most worthie and most easie to be plantit with Christiane peopleabsol. 1535 Stewart II. 459 heading.
How King Gregoure with his power passit in Fyffe … and plantit and pleneist as he passit

b. intr. To take up one's abode, to settle. 1535 Stewart 24443.
[He] gaif thame landis as tha lest To plant and police quhair thame lykit best a1568 Scott i. 132.
The grittest ay the grediar I ges To plant quhair preistis and personis wer possessouris 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xv.
Sick beists … That hantit and plantit That place to be thair port

c. intr. To settle temporarily, take up camp, encamp. d. To be plantit doun, to have set up camp.c. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 17213.
With that the king plantit about the toun And everie lord stentit his pavillioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 206/13.
The kingis enemeis … come … to the watter of Charrane … and planted thair that nightd. 1535 Stewart 31791.
Vpoun ane plane quhair tha war plantit doun

e. intr. To settle, colonise (in a particular place). 1630 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 31.
Gif the Englishe … may be sufferit to plant in ane pairt of the Yles

7. tr. To provide (a ministerial charge or teaching post) (with an incumbent); also, to provide for (the Church as an institution) in this way.(1) 1563 Actes Generall Assembly for Confirming Bookes of Discipline Church of Scotland (1621) 12 (25 June).
Commissions [are] … to be given to the bishops of Galloway … and Catnes … to plant kirks … within their owne bounds 1569 Ib. (1621) 14 (25 Feb.).
He hath left the kirks partly unplanted and partly planted but destitute of provision 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 746.
Thai kirkis that preiching wantit Thristis not mekill till haue plantit 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 492.
Nane aucht to be … enterit in the places alreddie plantit 1596 James VI in Row 170.
To have all the kirks of Scotland well planted and provyded 1598 Gunn Traquair Church 4.
For planting the kirk of Traquair 1616 Sutherland Bk. II. 123.
Seing that leving is not abill to plant the kirkis 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 236.
That scowlis be plantit and parochinneris be stentit 1651 Lamont Diary 29. 1654 Baillie III. 244.
The parliament of England had given to the English judges … a … commission … to plant and displant our universities 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 177.
In geting the vacand places of the ministrie plantit and supplied(2) 1618-60 Lithgow Poet. Remains 7.
How well is plant our Church, and what a kind Of ciuill order … Wee haue(3) 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 81/2.
Seeing all the kirkis uithin youre dominions plaunted uith goode pastoures 1615 Highland P. III. 203. 1646 Moray Synod 81.
That that kirk might be planted with ane able man 1659 St. A. Presb. 74.
[Deploring] the vacancie of the thrid masters charge … [and desiring] to have it planted with a godlie and able man 1691 Cramond Kirk S. III.
Planting all vacant congregations with godly and weel qualified ministers