Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1813-1814
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†PLICHEN, n. Also pleghan. “A peasant” (w.Fif. 1825 Jam.), a boy who did odd jobs on a farm.Per. a.1814 J. Ramsay Scot. in 18th c. (1888) II. 209:
Our ordinary farmers' households consisted of a big man, a little man, a pleghan — i.e., a lad of fifteen or sixteen years of age, who could drive the plough or thrash occasionally.
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"Plichen n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/plichen>
