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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.

Parpan, Perpan, -en, n. Also: parpane, perpane; parpin; porpen; perpend; parapan; papan. [ME. and e.m.E. perpoynt, -pend (c 1429), parpine (1579–80), OF. par-, perpain, parpin (all 14th c. in Godef.), parpan (1498) adj. (applied to a stone of this sort), also ellipt. as noun (= sense 1 below), med. L. parpanus. Cf. Parpal(l n.]

1. A stone cut to lie from side to side of a wall; a through-stone, a parpen. b. ? Stone-work of this kind, collectively. c. Attrib. with -esler, -stane, id.a. 1453 Misc. Spald. C. V. 49.
For ii dusane of hewyne parpannysb. 1552 Dundee B. Ct. II. 190 b (10 Oct.).
The quhilkis cuppillis salbe vrocht sufficientlie … according to the higcht & breid of the gawillis with parpane jestit to ane sufficient nummerc. 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 370.
For wining and hewing of … squar parpin stones for to be linningis kaipes and solles for the wall 1696 Knoop & Jones Sc. Mason 83.
The key [is] … under a perpend esler and a green divot

2. A thin wall (? orig. one built of parpen-stones), as used as a partition; hence chiefly, a partition-wall of any material. a. In comb. parpan-wall. b. Ellipt. Also fig.a. 1506–7 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. fol. 35.
Per edificacione lie perpane wall inter penates in hospicio Edinburgi v s. 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 96.
v dosane of rauchtaris … to the makin of ane parpane wall in the gelehous 1535 Ib. 105.
For 1^m nailis to the perpane wall and portall in the dusty hall 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 136.
Ane braid daill to be ane porpenwall to the litill hous of the portell 1556–7 Old Dundee II. 235.
And sall cause mak ane parpane wall of timmer … dividing the loft in twa 1558 Crail B. Ct. 13 June.
Ane parpen vay contenand xiiij buyrdis by the dowr 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 148.
The parpan wall of the hous schuik 1612 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 326.
Ane parpanvall to be maid befoir the regester dore 1615 Ib. 360.
Tua divisiouns of parpan walies … of lath and roufe spares 1637 Kirkcaldy Presb. 119. 1641 Houston Auchterderran 233.
The parapan wall approven in the househead, 4 dozen of sparrs, 36 sh. 1663 Stirling Common Good 16b.
26 load of clay & 16 of sand to the chimney & papan wallb. 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 361.
For carrying of lxviij daillis and v dubill ruif sparis … to mak the parpanis in the said schole 1598 Ib. 225.
The hie schole sall be devydet in four houssis be thre parpennis 1621 Perth Kirk S. 24 Sept.
They cum wp wpone an letter within ane wther hous nixt the stabill … to louk with ane candill ouer the parpanfig. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 233.
And therefore the prophet calleth it [sin] a parpane whereby [etc.] Ib. 319.
Cast down this perpen of iniquitie 1624 Id. in Calderwood IV. 638.
For I found within me suche a parpan of iniquitie dividing between his majestie's confortable presence and me

c. Attrib. 1641 Kirkcaldy Presb. 205.
For tuo pair bands to the parpan bedd — 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 28.
2 pair cross taild bandis to 2 parpan dores — 1535–6 Ib. I. 180.
For certane of the perpan jestis to the fore entre 1552 Old Dundee II. 125.
Parpane jeists 1560 Ib. 186.
Aucht grite perpen geists to be imput be him in the walls