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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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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.

Poll, Pow, n.² Also: pol, polle; pole, poill. [ME and e.m.E. polle (c 1290), poll (Wyclif), pol (c 1400), also powle (1584), the head, an individual (c 1325), = poll tax (1684), muster (1607), counting of voters (1625), etc.: cf. MLG pol, polle head, tree-top (1398), MDu. polle top of the head, head, also Sw. dial. pull, Da. puld, crown of head.In later north. Eng. dial. also as powl and in mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. as pow, head.]

1. The human head; also, ? the head of a sheep.Deid poll, a death's head, skull.Also, the head viewed as the seat of wisdom.Also proverb.: see Nikky now and Nitty adj.(1) a1500 Henr. III 156/4.
With gaistly sicht behold oure heidis thre, Oure holkit ene, oure peilit pollis [M. powis] bair Ib. 32, etc.(b) 1535 Stewart 38847.
The Scottis … peltit on thair powis ane lang space a1605 Montg. Flyt. 66 (T).
We will heir tyance, peild pellet, on that [H. of thy] pow a1585 Polwart Flyt. 568 (T). 1589–90 Reg. Privy C. IV 453.
Thay … layed thair handis upoun the pow and, in eithnik and barbarous maner, sweir to defend the authouris of the said murthour 1596 Dalr. II 122/21.
Andro Bartayne … slew sa mony piratis, that mony puncheounis full of thair powis he sent … to the king 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 23.
Whilk keep't not's pow [gl. scalp] fra wind and weather(c) 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 393.
[Ancient form of coronation] the bishops and all the rest tuiche the poill and caus it to be halffe covered(2) a1500 Henr. III 156 title.
The thre deid pollis(3) a1599 Rollock Wks. I 374.
The mair he … thinke he hes ane wise pow the mair [etc.](4) 1598 Reg. Privy C. V 477.
[Wool] weyed upoun the naill without the pow

2. transf. a. An individual person as a unit in a number or list. b. Be (by) (the) poll, according to the number of ‘heads’ or persons, and of election by counting of heads.a. c1420 Wynt. iv 2518.
All the men … To … regystere thaim be name and poll [v.r. be name ilk poll] Ib. 2525.
Ilke man … Suld … for his polle … pay his trewage … a denere Ib. 2547.
And outh ilk mannys polle Hys name wes wryttyn and his tollb. (1) 1597 Skene Verb. S. (ed. 2) s.v. Canvm.
Them quha was taxed be the head or pow 1659 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 432.
That the peyment be by the pol … viz … .eache persone primare sex shillings sterline [etc.](2) 1689 Acts XII 69/2.
To elect new magistrats … be the pole of burgesses bearing burdein in the respective burghs Ib. 62/1.
By pole 1689 Peebles B. Rec. II 129.
A new election … by pole of the burgesses bearing burdein in the respective burghs

c. comb. Poll-money, also poll-penny, a tax levied on every single person, a capitation tax, poll-tax; the money, or a sum, paid as poll-tax.e.m.E. poll-money (1526).Not the same as Poll-penny, q.v. below. 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I 92.
Of ilk subiect man or woman young and auld ane poill pennie according to his birth or dignitie — 1641 Acts V (1817) 345/1.
The poll monyes comes in fast 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 273.
That poll money be payed by all … abone 7 ȝeire old 1660 Lamont Diary 121.
The parliament of England … established poll money in England 1667 Rothesay B. Rec. 133.
To give in a list of persounis who ar subject to pol money within the brughe 1669 Glasgow B. Rec. III 116.
Poll monye 1678 Conv. Burghs IV 11. c 1693 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 41.
All gentlemen … £3 pole money 1694 Annandale Corr. 88.
Now there being pole money, additionall excise, and cesse 1694 Rothesay B. Rec. 495.
Poll money 1696 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 5.
For polmony … for my whole famaly, £32.7.0 1696 Cromarty Corr. I 120.
The cesse and pole money are lifted according to the old valuation 1696 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 254.
Pole money 1698 Edinb. B. Rec. III 238.
All persons lyable in pole money 1704 Acts XI 197/1.
Polemoney

d. Poll-tax. = c prec. 1669 Kingarth Par. Rec. 55.
That this stent or pole be … raisd for the end forsaid 1694 Foulis Acc. Bk. 170.
For my poll 24 lib., my wife and 2 douchters 13 sh. [etc.] Ib.
Advanced of poll for Mr. Wm. Meldrum 1695 Acts IX 381/2.
All persons … shall be subject and lyable to a pole of six shilling 1695 R. Brown Paisley I 330.
Alex. Forman, weiver, no stock, 12 sh. trade and pole 1695 Lochwinnoch Par. 186.
Pole