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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.

Pas, Pass(e, Pace, Pase, n. [Late north. ME. (15th c.) and e.m.E. (Caxton) passe, pas, F. passe f. passer Pas v. Cf. the cognate Pace n.¹]

1. The act or fact of passing; passage; also, death.Also, fre pas. 1456 Hay I. 185/13.
The duke ansueris that of sik weris he has nocht ado na of the pas settis he nocht na lykis nocht bot gif he wald geve him hostage to reforme all … scathis that suld be done throu his men … for caus of the said passage c1590 Fowler I. 82/131.
The houer was come … Wherein she must that doubtfull pace and passage than assey 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 615.
They … demolisched the haill houssis in St Marie Wynd … that thai mycht haif frie pas to thair cannoun quhilk thai haid montit upone the Neddir Bow

b. Commoun pase, a public way or route (cf. Passag(e n.¹ 3 a). — 1660 Rothesay B. Rec. 48.
A commoun pase entering of the commoun gait … the passadge being consideret to be tuo kargait of bredthe … makand throw his land a commoun passe to his house 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 299.
A common passe where they had conveniency of burialls

2. A state of actuality; realisation.Only in the phrases cum to (gude) pase and bring to (till) pase. 1527 Douglas Corr. 119.
Within breif tyme all sall cum to gude pase 1567 Sat. P. vi. 63.
The clene contrare sall cum to pas but dout c1590 Fowler II. 14/21.
Manye things cums to passe contrair the houp … of man c1650 Gordon Brit. Dist. 113. — 1585 Calderwood IV. 346.
Their other devices standing difficill and longsome to be brought to passe [etc.] c1610 Melville Mem. 43.
Desyrous bring till pas many hyche pretencis and far fetchis

b. A critical position; a situation: see Pace n.¹ 5.

3. A written permission to pass into or out of a place. 1589-1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 18 b.
For loueseng of our pas Ib. 22 a.
For ane pas ine the pond chamer xii marke viii gros Ib. 67 b.
Ine the cetell for our pas xix gros 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 98.
The former actes against fugitives, maisterless man and those who travell without pass 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 16.
For the admiralls pas 17 s. 1674 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 13 Apr.
To grant … to all burgesses of this burghe quha are skippers sea brieffes or passes in the ordinarie maner c 1680 in Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies 23.
We renounce … hornings, letters of adjudications, ships-passes [v.r. ship passes], prophanity [etc.] 1681 Stair Inst. ii. ii. 7.
In time of war neuters do instruct their vessels with passes and other documents 1684 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 124.
And these that getts passes to goe from this place to any other pairt of the kingdome 1684 Cullen Kirk S. II. 17 Feb. (see Passinger n. 1 (b)). 1696 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 15 Feb.
For passes furnished to the toun be him [the minister of Garvald] in the last King James time