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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1672
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Pagan(e, n. and a. Also: pai-, pay- and -gain, -gayn, -gen, -gon. [L. pāgānus a rustic, also (in Christian apologists) a heathen. Cf. late ME. pagane n. (a 1450, once, rendering L. pāgānus) and e.m.E. pagan a. (1550) and n. (1593). Cf. also Payan(e n. and a., and Panian.Appar. chiefly Sc. till the late 16th c.]
A. noun. A pagan: a heathen, infidel, or idolater.Also possess. with lay and wys.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 337.
Paul … prechit Cristis law … To paganis c1420 Wynt. v. 669.
Pagaynys c1420 Ib. ii. 137. 1456 Hay I. 298/34.
Paganis that we call uncristyn men and wist of na Cristyndome 1490 Irland Mir. II. 90/1.
Gif the pagane or innemy of the faith sais [etc.] c1515 Asloan MS I. 198/23.
The paganis of Horsus and of Ingest … conquest ȝow halely 1531 Bell. Boece II. 50.
Thay … usit the cursit ritis of paganis, aberand fra the Cristin faith 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 3/2. 1551 Hamilton Catechism 255.
Geve thi grace to Turkis, Sarracenis, paganis and Jewis … to laif thair errour c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5389.
Thay … leif nocht lyke to Christianis But more lyke Turkis and to paganis 1597 Skene Verb. S. (1599) s.v. Hebdomas.
The auld Gotthes being paganis … did honour and worship … idols ?1672 M. Bruce Sermon in Edinb. Tolbooth 5.
Pagons(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints viii. 6.
Payganis that war dwelland thare [etc.] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 251/457.
To him quho hath redeimed us nou from creuall paigainis thralle(2) c1420 Wynt. v. 2545.
He mad on the paganys wys Till ydolys fals hys sacryfyis c1420 Ib. 3412 (see Lay n.1 b).
b. As a term of abuse.a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 525 (Ch. & M.).
Sarazene, symonyte, provit pagane pronunciate [etc.] 1629 Mure Sonnets xi. 10.
A Turk but treuth, a pagane for a preist
B. adj. Pagan; heathen, not Christian.(1) c1515 Asloan MS I. 187/10.
As thai war counsalit be thar pagane goddis 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 159.
I compt not of thir paygane goddis a fudder(2) 1513 Doug. v. ii. 71 (1553).
Pagen 1533 Boece ii. xiv. 89 b.
The king … did funerall sacrifice … conforme to the pagane rite(3) 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 4/11.
The … pagan princis quhilkis impeschit hym(4) 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 32/19.
The pagan philosophours held mony vane opinions
