Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLEDGE, n., v. Also pleedge (Cai. 1871 M. McLennan Peasant Life 95), plaidge. Sc. usages. [plidʒ]

I. n. 1. As in Eng.:Sh. 1991 William J. Tait in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 44:
A wird oonsaid
My sign an plaidge sall be
Ta preeve da wine
Nae winepress ever bled.

Comb. †pledge-house, a debtor's prison.Dmf. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings I. ii. xiii. s.6:
Mr. Webster and his Two Friends . . . removed to the Pledge-house, where Debtors used to be put.

2. In pl., a game resembling Prisoner's base or Scots and English, at one time popular in the Borders (see quot.).Rxb. 1825 R. Wilson Hist. Hawick 164–5:
A number of the old games among boys in the border districts were emblematical of the inroads of the English in former times. One of the prineipal amusements of this description forty years ago, and now nearly extinct, in this town was called “The Pledges”. The game was played by parties of twelve, fourteen or twenty of a side, upon an open piece of ground. A line of demarcation was drawn between them. Their coats, vests, hats, and shoes, were cast off, and laid on the ground in two heaps, twenty or thirty yards back from the line on each side. The capture of the clothes or pledges was the essence of the game; and to protect these the contending parties arranged themselves along the margin of the line, each boy directly facing his antagonist. The game commenced with the mutual challenge of “Set your foot on Scotch ground, ye English if ye dare!” Operations began by the boys attempting to pull one another over the line that divided the “sister kingdoms” and thus to make prisoners.

II. v. As in Eng., to warrant, guarantee, give one's word. Phr. ye pledge, you may be sure. “take it from me”, “you may guarantee”.Kcb. 1890 A. S. Armstrong Musings 43:
The train was ready for the lowe — A weel-laid train ye pledge.