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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

PLENISH, v., n. Also plenis, plenniss-. plaeneesh, plinis(h), pleenish (Per. 1895 I. McLaren Brier Bush 218), planish. [′plɛnɪʃ]

I. v., tr. 1. To furnish or provide with, supply, stock (with), fill, to replenish (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, 1825 Jam.), specif. to stock (land) with cattle. Also in n.Eng. dial. Vbl.n. plenishing, goods, gear, effects, accoutrements, ppl.adj. plenished, in comb. weel- (ill-, etc.) plenished, well-endowed, well-stocked, handsomely equipped, rich (Sh., n.Sc., Ags., Per., Uls. 1966); derivs. plenishment, n., a stock, supply, outfit(ting); plenisher, appar. one acting in a temporary capacity, a supply.Bnff. 1709 W. Cramond Ch. Grange (1898) 72:
A master who was “but a plenisher and not so provided with separate rooms as otherwayes he might be” allowed his male and female servants to sleep in the same room.Sc. 1720 Grievances of the poor Commonality 25:
Victuals being cheap, every Man that has Credit, can plenish a small piece of Land.e.Lth. 1765 Caled. Mercury (27 March):
The garden has been lately plenished with the best kinds of fruit-trees and bushes.Sc. 1773 Ib. (8 Nov.):
Any public-spirited experienced Grazier giving an answer to this, could be of great use to many who has grass to plenish up at the Whitsunday, as they will thus know how many such a park will feed of such a weight.Ayr. 1793 Burns When Wild War's vii.:
Quo' she: — “My grandsire left me gowd, A mailen plenish'd fairly!”Per. c.1800 Lady Nairne Songs (Rogers 1905) 230:
The weel plenish'd kist it is fu'.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xxiv.:
Wha wad neglect bridals that had ony regard for plenishing the earth?Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1837) II. 190:
I'm sure she had been a lusty weel plenished corpse, Janet.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize II. xvi.:
Sarah's father bestowed likewise on us seven rigs . . . for her tocher, as the beginning of a plenishment to our young fortunes.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxi.:
As weel plenish't a fairmer's sin as there is i' the pairis.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet xxxvi.:
She's weel plenisht an' providit.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff vi.:
“Plenish 'er glasses” he shouted.

2. To furnish a house or the like (Sc. 1799 H. Mitchell Scotticisms 65, 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc. Vbl.n. plenishing, furniture, household equipment (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Obs. Sc. Dial. 125), freq. that brought by a bride to her new home. Rarely in pl. Gen.Sc. Also deriv. plenishment, id. (Sh. 1966).Sc. 1701 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 299:
To pat. jonstouns men caried the plenishing to woodhall . . . 4s 6d.Sc. 1712 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) II. 102:
He had a mind to be at the more famouse University, and accordingly sent off some of his books and plenishing to Amsterdame.Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 54:
An ill-natur'd Jad, with Besom of Hairs, Sweeps me [spider] and my Plenishing down the Stairs.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xlvi.:
Duncan Knock's father had been at that onslaught, and brought back muckle gude plenishing.Ags. 1821 Montrose Chron. (30 Nov.) 379:
When he wins anither fee. He'll plenish out a bonny ha'.Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals vi.:
There was such a supply of plenishing of all sort wanted, that I thought myself ruined.Per. 1830 Per. Advertiser (4 Nov.):
It was on that day also [day before wedding] that the bride's plenishing arrived. This was sent for by the bridegroom, and conveyed in his own carts, if he had any, and if not in those of some kind neighbour. These carts were accompanied by a female friend of the bride's, whose duty it was to see that every thing was safely unpacked and put in its proper place.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1874) 281:
What's two young creatures, though their hearts be full of love, when the house is empty of plenishing?Gall. c.1870 Scottish Studies II. ii. 210:
His house, though but sma', was plenish'd fu' weel.Abd. 1884 Folk-Lore Jnl. II. 353:
One part of a bride's “plinisan” is a trunk, “the kist.”Dmf. 1913 J. L. Waugh Cracks wi' R. Doo viii.:
In we gaed, richt ben to the parlour wi' the new plenishin's.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 133:
I luikid aroond da pritty plinish'd kjaebin, as grit an' roomy as da parlour o' da Manse.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 10:
Twae-threi chiels war biggin furniter as plaeneesheen on ti laarries.Uls. 1929 W. F. Marshall Ball. Tyrone 47:
Plenishment they'd have little or noan.Sc. 1958 Daily Express (30 June):
The “furniture and plenishing” are up for sale this week.Lnk. 1989 Lanark & Carluke Advertiser 6 Oct :
Weekly sale of household Furniture including Modern Bedroom Unit, ....... D. R Suite, also the residue plenishing from a Hamilton Estate.

II. n. = plenishing above in all senses; specif. applied to broken fragments of pottery or china used in children's games at “Houses” (Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. XI. 322).Ags. 1722 Private MS.:
The said houshold plenish.Ork. 1737 W. Mackintosh Curious Incidents (1892) 196:
My wife has done all that she can do in supplying me and can do no more, for she has sold all her house plenish.Dmf. 1861 R. Quinn Heather Lintie 151:
A house my ain, o' plenish fu'.