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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.

Pal-, Pailȝo(u)n(e, n. Also: -ȝean, -ȝeo(u)n(e, -ȝown, -yean, -y(e)on(e, -y(e)oun(e; pail(l)-, pal(l)ion(e, -ioun; paleȝeon; paylion; pallieȝ(ie)oun; paulȝon, -yon(e; pellion. [ME. palyon (1381), f. as Pavil(l)ion n., with vocalisation and loss of v.]

1. A large and stately tent, a pavilion.Freq., one specially prepared and adorned for the use of a king, nobleman, or other personage of rank in the field or on a sporting occasion, as a tourney.Also, a tented erection in use as a store, booth, tiring-room, etc.Also, in fig. context.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1773.
The king and the douzeperis … gart stent baith palȝeonis and tentis a1500 Henr. Fab. 877 (Bann.). c1475 Wall. vi. 466.
The kingis palȝone quhar on the libardis baid Ib. 615. 1494 Loutfut MS. 115 a.
The offices of armys heraldis & pursewantis berand cottis suld haue thair [sc. the losers'] palyeonis 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 345. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1167. Id. Æn. viii. x. 20. 1513–4 Sc. Ant. XII. 119. 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 183.
And charge the provest [etc.] … of thir townis … that thai send all thar tentis and palȝeouns quhilkis ony nychtbouris within thar said townis has 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 270.
[Holofernes'] heide ues cuttit of suddanlye in his aun palyeoun 1531 Bell. Boece II. 393.
The goldin and silkin claithis of quhilkis King Edwardis palyonis war maid 1533 Boece viii. viii. 266.
The lowe that was … spred amang the stray and ryis of the palȝeouns 1535 Stewart 12457.
Palȝeone 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 23.
With the buirdis treseis palȝeonis, and uther hunting gair 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II. 208.
With … palyeonis to ly on the feildis 1558-66 Knox II. 59.
Palyeanis 1571 Reg. Privy C. II. 83. 1585 Reg. Morton I. 145.
Faill nocht to haue the said palȝeoun sufficientlie orderit with cordis pynnis and all vther furnitour belangand thairto 1585 Waus Corr. 335.
The kingis majestie hes appointed … ane raid with tent and palȝeon 1596 Dalr. II. 97/12. 1647 Glasgow Trades House 258.
For dressing the palȝeoun and stenting of it(b) 1375 Barb. xi. 117 (E).
All thai … that chargyt war With pailȝownys [C. palȝeonys] … And aparaile of chambyr and hall Ib. xix. 542. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 312.
Thai plantit doun ane pailyeoun … Of pall and of pillour that proudly was picht With rapis of rede gold [etc.] 1494 Loutfut MS. 3 a.
Pailȝon 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 285.
Ane aschin tre to be toppis to the Kingis pailȝounis Ib. 288.
Of drinksiluer for pailȝounis sowing 1501 Ib. II. 93.
Kepare of the Kingis pailȝons 1504 Ib. 453.
For the irne werk that misterit to the pailȝonis 1508 Ib. IV. 22.
Taffetj to the courtingis of the Kingis pailȝoun 1513 Ib. 521. 1513 Doug. ii. i. 31. 1527 Treas. Acc. V. 324, etc.
For paynting of the Kingis pailȝeon and the armys thairto 1532 Ib. VI. 74 (see Listing n.). 1533 Boece iv. ix. 140.
Scottis … ar brokin and wery gif thai ly lang in pailȝons 1539 Ex. Processes Scott v McDowall.
Pailȝeone 1570 Leslie 284. a1578 Pitsc. II. 267/11.
Pailliounis 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 148.
Ane pailȝeoun with the furnessing thairof … iij^c merkis moneth(c) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 515.
To be chanys to the … paulȝonis Ib. 521.
To ij soutaris … to dress the hydis for the paulyonis Ib.
To xl men … to the upsetting and the dounetaking of the paulyonis(d) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 465.
Pallioun 1533 Boece v. iii. 167 b.
To ly in wynter on the plane without palliouns or covertouris 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 82.
Paleȝeonis a1578 Pitsc. I. 73/7.
Pallieȝieouns 1597 Cal. Sc. P. XII. 545.
[Two] pallionis [The one will hold as is esteemed 300 men, the other will hold three score (etc.)] 1622-6 Bisset II. 230/27.
To rander all powlder harnes palions and ankeris of schipis brocht agane fra the wayagis to serve eftirwarde in the kingis wearis(e) 1603 Moysie 54.
They stented thair pellionis at Sanct Rinianis kirk(2) 1537 Ayr B. Acc. 26.
For taking of the townis pailyeoun to the Grenan to keip the salt 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1387 (Ch.).
Heir sall thay depairt and pas to the palȝeoun Ib. 2315. 1550–1 Perth Guildry 273 (20 Feb.).
That na chepman stand apon the geit with thair pailȝeonis nor housis ony day in the oulk bot the mercat dayis alanerlie 1617 Inverurie 205.
Gif … ony outland browster … erect ony tent or pailȝean to sell either aill, wyn or beir [etc.]fig. a1500 K. Hart 326. a1605 Montg. Mindes Mel. xix. 18.
There he a throne Set for the sunne And paylion plight [sic] his mansion to abide 1609 Garden Garden 9.
Here Apollo hes his palion pitcht

b. plur. A tented camp; an army's ‘lines.’ 1375 Barb. xii. 215 (E).
Ilk man in till his awn eschell Without the pailȝownys [C. palȝownys] arayit In bataillis 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 288.
And … the armyis … durst nocht invaid vther, thai returnit baith to thair palȝeonis Ib. (1821) II. 371.
Quhen the armyis war reddy to jone, the Inglismen left thair palyonis

2. = Palȝoun(e man (sense 5 (2) below). 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 119.
To John Hertis, pailȝoun, his wage for v owkis tua dayis remanand on the pailȝonis for the barres 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 49.
Schir Thomas Helcroft … remaynit with the pailȝeonis, quha wer all harneist men

3. A canopy to a tent-bed. Cf. Pavil(l)ion n. 2. 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 300.
To be curtingis and palȝeonis to ane bed

4. A flag or banner.Also, attrib. with -kist.1572 Peebles B. Rec. I. 347. 1573 Ib. 354.
To cause William Kelle to bring and restore the palyeone hame agane to the stepill 1575 Glasgow B. Rec. (M.C.) 51.
For hynging of the pallioun in the counsalhous at the baillies command 1582 Ib. (B.R.S.) I. 96.
That the anseinyeis of the toun … with the palyeoun and wther lyk ordinances perteining to the commowne-schipe of Glasgow … be yeirlie … delyuerit to the intrant baillie 1584 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 84.
That thair be provydit for service of the tounschipe ane commoun swesche and ane handsenyie, with ane palȝeoun

5. Attrib. and comb., chiefly or only in sense 1.Also possess. (? plur.) with hous.(1) 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 352.
Pailȝoune broggis — 1540 Ib. VII. 320.
To be palȝeoun cordis, ane stane of towis — Ib.
To mend the palȝeoun durris, iiij elnis bartane cammes — 1645–6 Peebles Gleanings 257.
For carying twa pallioun kistis and horsing of ane ensigne to Selkirk in Kenmures regiment — 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 383.
For ij dosane v elne cammes to the pailȝoun pokis to mend lynyngis of arres clathes 1496 Ib. I. 289.
To cary a laid of spakis … to mak pailȝoune pynnys — Ib. 295.
For grathing of the pailȝoune toppis with irne grath — Ib. 291.
Pailȝoune tow a1578 Pitsc. I. 175/32.
Couchrane … desyrit thame to tak ane of his awin pallieȝoun towis quhilk was of silk — 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 290.
Pailȝoun treis 1565 Ib. XI. 408.
Palȝeone treis(2) 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 333.
To Thomas Tailȝour pailȝoun man his pensioun 1505 Ib. III. 149.
To Johne Hertished pailȝoun man to pas to Edinburgh to graith the palȝons agane the hunting and to se thaim 1506 Ib. 354. 1507 Ib. 334. 1513 Ib. IV. 509.
To … palyoune man, wyrkand at the palyonis iij wolkis, and iiij seruandis with him, he takkand on the day for himself xvj d.(3) 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 475.
To the man that deliverit the keyis of the pailȝonis hous