Chapter Plunder to Ply of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

2. To lay on closely, or in folds; to work upon steadily, or with repeated acts; to press upon; to urge importunately; as, to ply one with questions, with solicitations, or with drink.

And plies him with redoubled strokes

Dryden.

He plies the duke at morning and at night.

Shak.

3. To employ diligently; to use steadily.

Go ply thy needle; meddle not.

Shak.

4. To practice or perform with diligence; to work at.

Their bloody task, unwearied, still they ply.

Waller.

Ply
(Ply), v. i.

1. To bend; to yield. [Obs.]

It would rather burst atwo than plye.

Chaucer.

The willow plied, and gave way to the gust.

L'Estrange.

2. To act, go, or work diligently and steadily; especially, to do something by repeated actions; to go back and forth; as, a steamer plies between certain ports.

Ere half these authors be read (which will soon be with plying hard and daily).

Milton.

He was forced to ply in the streets as a porter.

Addison.

The heavy hammers and mallets plied.

Longfellow.

3. (Naut.) To work to windward; to beat.

Ply
(Ply), n. [Cf. F. pli, fr. plier. See Ply, v.]

1. A fold; a plait; a turn or twist, as of a cord. Arbuthnot.

2. Bent; turn; direction; bias.

The late learners can not so well take the ply.

Bacon.

Boswell, and others of Goldsmith's contemporaries, . . . did not understand the secret plies of his character.

W. Irving.

The czar's mind had taken a strange ply, which it retained to the last.

Macaulay.

Ply is used in composition to designate folds, or the number of webs interwoven; as, a three-ply carpet.