Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†PASSMENT, n., v. Also pas(se)ment; pess(a)ment, pacement.
I. n. Usu. in pl.: strips of gold or silver lace or silk braid used as decorative trimming; livery (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., pessments). Obs. in Eng. exc. hist. Also attrib., in 1907 quot. = ostentatious, vainglorious, emptily ornate.Gsw. 1704 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1908) 380:
Cloaths of reid cloath with passments thereon.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journal (M.C.) 136:
The finest liveries quite covered over with pacements.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian ix.:
He maun broider the marriage-garment with lace and passments, or it's no gude eneugh for him.Sc. 1907 D. Macalister Echoes (1923) 125:
Gae, kiss like slaves wi' loutit een A lording's pasment traisses.
II. v. To adorn with lace, trim (a garment, etc.) with braid, gimp or the like. Ppl.adj. passemented, -it, trimmed, lace-edged.Sc. 1706 J. Watson Choice Coll. i. 29:
Coach'd through the Streets with Horses four, Foot-grooms Pasmented oe'r and oe'r.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xvi.:
A grand man, wi' a coat a' passemented wi' worset-lace.Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Writings 22:
Wi' silken cloak an' velvet bannet, Wi' gowd a'pessamentit o'er.Sc. 1897 Stevenson St. Ives xxviii.:
I mind I had a green gown, passementit, that was thocht to become me to admiration.
