† practv.
Scottish. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To put into practice, to be engaged in, to carry out; to be skilled at.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > carrying out > execute, perform, or carry out [verb (transitive)]
lasteOE
ylastc888
wieldeOE
doeOE
dreeOE
forthOE
fremeOE
workOE
affordOE
full-bringc1175
fulfila1225
perfurnisha1325
complishc1374
performc1384
achievea1393
chevisea1400
practic?a1425
exploitc1425
execute1477
furnish1477
through1498
practa1513
enure1549
chare1570
enact1597
act1602
to carry out1608
outcarry1611
celebrate1615
complya1616
peract1621
tide1631
implement1837
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be skilled or versed in [verb (transitive)]
witOE
knowOE
underfoa1300
practa1513
skill?1529
to be au fait in or ata1743
a1513 J. Irland Meroure of Wyssdome f. 250, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at (Pract,) Gif the lawis..ware..weill vsit and practit.
a1525 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Lansdowne) vi. l. 1846 Practit [a1530 Royal In Scotland nere the lyk cas Be Makbeth-Fynlayk practykyd was].
1568 (a1500) Colkelbie Sow i. 96 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 285 A schipman on se & sand That takis lyfe & gud on hand And knawis nowþer cours nor tyd, Bot presumpteouss in pryd Practing no thing expert In cunnyng cumpass nor kert.
2. intransitive. Probably: to prance about, to fool around.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > leap, spring, or jump [verb (intransitive)]
leapc900
startOE
reseOE
springa1275
throwc1275
upleapc1275
launch13..
aspringc1315
sault1377
lance?a1400
sprenta1400
loupc1480
lope1483
spang1513
bendc1530
jump1530
spend1533
stend1567
vaulta1568
pract1568
exult1570
bound1593
saltate1623
subsalt1623
jet1635
spoutc1650
volt1753
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > be or become foolish [verb (intransitive)] > act foolishly
dotec1225
foleyec1374
fop1528
fond1530
daff1535
pract1568
dolt1573
daw1596
fool1597
guck1603
baboonize1611
prat1685
to play the fool1722
niff-naff1728
fopple1756
doitera1790
daffle1796
tomfool1825
to play (also act) the (giddy) goat1841
lallygag1862
silly1877
monkey1878
footle1891
to ass around1899
to play silly buggers (also beggars, bleeders, etc.)1903
to arse around1919
to jackass around1927
nimble-pimble1927
to fuck about1929
to fool up1933
to crap around1936
pantomime1958
prat1961
dork1990
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > leap, spring, or jump [verb (intransitive)] > caper
leapc900
playOE
floxec1200
startlec1300
trancec1374
prancec1380
tripc1386
scoupa1400
prankc1450
gambol1508
frisk?1520
jeta1529
pract1568
trounce1568
trip1578
capriole1580
lavolta1590
linch1593
curvet1595
flisk1595
firk1596
caper1598
jaunce1599
risec1599
cabre1600
jaunt1605
skit1611
to cut a caper or capersa1616
tripudiate1623
insult1652
to fike and flinga1689
scamper1691
dance1712
pranklea1717
cavort1794
jinket1823
gambado1827
caracol1861
1568 (a1500) Colkelbie Sow i. 398 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 293 And so thay wend thay weill dansit And did bot practit and pransit.
Derivatives
ΚΠ
1568 (a1500) Colkelbie Sow i. 54 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 284 Ȝit scho callit to hir cheir on apostita freir A peruerst perdonair And practand palmair.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
<
v.a1513