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.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375, 1618-1619
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Pittance, n. [e.m.E. pitaunce (Ancr. R.), -ance, pytaunce, pittance, also petaunce (1463) a pious bequest (a 1225), an alms (c 1412), small allowance for food or drink (1390), small portion (1561), OF. pitance, -ence, appar. the same word as pitance, pietance pity, med. L. (Latham) pitantia, pitantium, petantia, pietantia, L. type *pietantia f. pietas Pieté n.] = Pittance-silver. —11..--12.. Reg. St. A. 255.
[Et terciam marcam ad pitanciam conventus die aniversario predictorum predecessorum meorum ? 12.. Liber Melros II. App. 678.]
Quamdam terram … in puram … elemosinam dedisset … ad unam pitanciam in festo natiuitatis beate Marie virginis a 1619 Paisley Chart. 133.
The rentale of the annuallis callit pittancis within the burghe of Paslay to be payit yeirlie at Witsonday and Mertimes of auld given to the prior and convent of Pasley callit the commoun silver pertaining to all the monks equallie in commountie yeirlie a 1619 Ib. 137. 1619 R. Brown Paisley I. 234.
That the whole persons that are indebted in any pittances be warned to compear
