Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

Pac(e)ing, Passing, -yng, vbl. n. [f. Pace v.; mod. Eng. pacing (1706).]

1. Of a person: a. Walking with a measured gait, pacing, marching. b. Measurement by, or as by, pacing out; comb.a. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 301.
Sa fayr folk … So stalwart in-to thar passyng Thare contynance and thar stering 1456 Hay II. 120/30.
In the mornyng thou suld first mak thy passyng a lytill quhile up and doune and strek and rak thy membris … evinlyb. 1658 R. Moray Lett. 2 Apr.
I would have you have a pacing instrument … that might save you the trouble of keeping count of your turnes

2. Of a horse: ?Manner or speed of progression, gait, pace; ?easy gait, ambling.Also. attrib. with -girthe (see also Possing-gird), -saddle. 1456 Hay II. 8/11.
My pallefray throu his soft passing gave me curage to slepe 1688 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII. 152.
I thought on the way of breeding horse … and of the different kinds of paceing and trottingattrib. 1600 Treas. Acc. MS. 71.
Passing girdis 1608 Argyll Acc. 7 Jan.
Ane passing girthe 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 970.
A pacing saddle, Ephippium tolutarium