Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Out-passage, n. [ME. (Trevisa), otherwise appar. only Sc. (Cf. Outgang and Outgate.)]

1. a. A physical outlet, an exit, a door. 1553 Blackfriars Perth 233.
At the west cheik of it [a stance] … was the out passage of ane closet … and the out-passage of the said closet may be considerit on the outside of the dyk of the samyn

b. A means of getting out or escape (from a place, from encirclement, etc.).Also fig., a means of escape from a difficulty. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 117.
And it [a moss] had na out passage bot at ane part quhilk was maid be thaim with flaikis, scherettis and treis Ib. II. 243.
Mony treis … stoppit baith the entres and out-passage of this gait Ib. 388.
The hors-men suld … be … inclusit but ony out-passage Id. Livy I. 253/24.
Bot ony esy outpassage [L. exitus] Ib. 146/13.fig. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 138/2.
Seing all his slichtis intercludit but ony out-passage [L. viam obsaeptam] he tuke purpois [etc.]

c. A means of letting out or causing to go out. 1558 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 271.
Gevin to Johnne Weir, puderar, for making of pypis to the out passage of the wyne

d. An act of going out or of escaping. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 211/15.
To stop the inemyis fra ony out-passage [L. hostibus viam clauserat] or isching 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Exodos, ane out passage

2. The going out (of goods from a town or a country), exportation. 14.. Acts I. 304/2.
For a burding of butter or cheese on a hors at the out passage a halfpeny