Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Pageant, Padgean(t, Padȝ(e)an(e, n. Also: -en, -in; pag(g)-, peg(g)an(e; padȝen, padȝand; -ȝeoun; paidgin(e; piadȝan; badgeand, bagan; Pangean. [ME. and e.m.E. pagent (1392–3), -eunt, pachand, pajant, paiande (15th c.), paiaunt, pageaunt(e, -eant, -eyond, etc. (16th c.), var. with accrescent -t of pagyn (c 1380), -in (a 1603). Cf. contemporary Anglo-Lat. pagenda (1411), pagina (1432), also plur. pagentes (1390), a stage, a representation.Of obscure origin: the connection, if any, with ME. and OF. pagine etc., L. pāgina, a page or leaf (see Pagent n.), remains uncertain.]

A pageant, in the usual senses.a. A (movable) stage or platform on which plays were performed. b. A play, tableau, mime or other representation performed or shown on this.To play a pageant, to perform a play.(1) 1505–6 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 120.
Tua of ilke craft to pas with the pageant that thai furnys 1507 Lanark B. Rec. in Ib. 261.
Padȝen 1507 Edinb. B. Ct. Bk. 6.
The ballies … chargit … the goldsmythis … to furnis thair padgeant of the passion 1526 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 159.
Togiddyr with all pageantis & sportis & plesand pastymes quhilk salbe diuisit [etc.] 1530 Ib. 124.
Pagganis 1532 Ib. 125.
The wanting of thair pagane in Corpus Christi processioun 1633 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. 119.
The pagin now standing at that plaice 1634 Edinb. Treas. Acc. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 213.
Certane dailles of the padgines 1635 Edinb. B. Rec. MS. in Ib. 212.
Debursit … in erecting of pagins [etc.](b) 1515–6 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 122.
To furnys thar partis and badgeandis 1551 Ib. 128.
Baganis(c) 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 449.
Euery craft with … thair pegane 1538 Ib. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 126. 1554 Aberd. Trades 60.
Peggane(d) 1634 Edinb. B. Rec. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 214.
The hardine of the saidis paidgines(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii. 51.
Pleasant padgeanes playit prattelie 1533–4 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 29 Jan.
The crafts consented … to play thair pageants on Corpus Crists day 1537 Ib. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 249.
Pagenis 15.. Clar. ii. 1663.
Betwix coursis was ane padȝeane playit Ib. 1670.
Eik was thair synis of padȝeanis playit dumbe Ib. v. 787.
Padȝeounis(b) 1541 Haddington B. Rec. MS. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 249.
Piadȝanis

c. Applied, dyslogistically, to a religious rite or service. — 1558-66 Knox I. 345.
Tables … holy aneuch for the preast and his padgean 1562-3 Winȝet II. 10/7.
Quha for his parte of the new padȝeane of his desperat brethir [etc.]

d. A specific part of a performance; a scene. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 109 (B).
Than cryd Mahoun for a heleand padȝane [: Makfadȝane; M. padȝeane] 1533 Bell. Livy II. 141/29.
He tuke away the craftismen and playaris … fra the myd padȝane of thir playis Ib. I. 191/20.

e. To play (one's) pageant, to play one's part (in a performance or in life). — c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 46 (Ch. & M.).
Makaris amang the laif Playis heir ther pageant [B. padȝanis, M. padȝandis] syne gois to graif 1591-2 Rob Stene 17.
Ȝe his jugling can not see … Quhill he haif plaid his padȝeane weill