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.
(Paisant,) Pays-, Pesant, n. [e.m.E. paissaunte (1475), peysant, peasant, etc., AF. paisant, OF. païsent, païsant, paysant.] A country-dweller, rustic. —1494 Loutfut MS. 23 a.
Bot a paysant that vthir tymis had sene hir wesche hir [etc.] 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 10.
To heis on hicht pure pesantis … From base estait to throne imperiall
