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.

(Pas-,) Passe-maister, n. [For the collocation passit, past maister, see Pas v. 30; mod. Eng. has passed master in this sense (1882).] a. ? An overbearing ruler, a tyrant: cf. Maister n. 9 (and 1). b. A qualified ‘master’ (as in senses 14–18 of Maister n.), an expert. — 1456 Hay I. 211/30.
Sum greve his nychtbouris but caus and preve to be a passe maister 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 150/14.
I ualde haue you reasonablie uersid into thaime [sc. other studies] but not preassing to be a passemaister in any of thaime