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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.

Passinger, -ynger, n. Also: -ear, -eoure; -anger, -enger; pasenger; (pans-,) pessinger. [Late ME. and e.m.E. passyngere (a 1450), -enger, -anger (16th c.), var. of Passager n., with nasalisation, as also in messinger etc.]

1. One who passes by, through, etc.; a traveller, a wayfarer.Also Fute-passinger.Passing into next sense.(a) 1513 Doug. vi. i. 11.
The thrynfald passynger Dyane 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxxvi.
Ane dangerus watter quhare mony passingeris perisis for falt of ane brig 1533 Boece ii. viii. 73.
That thareby suld the passingeris be informyt quhat men thai war [etc.] 1549 Banff Ann. I. 25. 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II. iii.
It wilbe unpossibill to ony passingeris to travell betuix the said burgh [Jedburgh] and this toun [Leith] 1584 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 315. 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 414.
That nane howse … any vagabunds passingers or strayngers bot that [etc.] 1588 King Cat. 173.
My dure was oppin to the passinger 1590 Burntisland B. Ct. 13 Nov.
The said boitt … beand reddie lows to serwe passingeris owr the watter a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 179.
Bacchus … distributing of his liquor to all passingers and behalders 1603 Glasgow Weavers 87.
Na manir of merchandis passingeris nor trafficquaris … to cary and transporte furth of this realme ony of the said lynnyng yairne 1604 Rothiemay Kirk S. in J. Gordon Hist. I. App. l.
Passenger 1615 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 178.
Passinger 1617 Acts IV. 536/2.
All … persones as … sall mak thai hie wayis noyesum and trublesum vnto passangeris 1635 Dundonald Par. Rec. 399.
Yeilding of charitie to poore strangers or passengers 1662 Alyth Par. Ch. 100.
A passanger from Irland to Aberdon(b) 1684 Cullen Kirk S. II. 17 Feb.
Given to 3 pessingers with passes 14 s. 8 d.

2. One travelling as a passenger on a ship, also in a stage coach. 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 228.
All … maisteris … of schippis … and inlikwis the … passingeris being thairintill 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 195.
Ressavit … fra vii passengeris furit in his schip out of Flanderis 1571 Reg. Privy. II. 88.
That na skippar … ressave in his schip merchandis nor na passingers a1578 Pitsc. I. 226/11. 1600-1610 Melvill 221.
About twoll persones passingers in barkit 1589-1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 6 aa.
The pasengeris is awne me ine vi s. 6 d. sterlyne for wetelis 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 311.
The … hous for conteining of passingers that goes in the stage coatches

3. A ferry-boat; a boat plying between port and port.Also attrib. in pansinger ship, id. 1513 Doug. vi. vi. 14.
Onlefull war … Within this passyngear [Ruddim. passingeoure] our Stix to bryng Ony levand wight a1578 Pitsc. I. 185/24.
The schip … gaif hir self fourtht as ane passinger witht wyneattrib. 1602 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 145.
It was long before he coulde gett his pacquette transported by sea for laike of pansinger shippes