Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Paus(e, Paws, n. [Late ME. and e.m.E. pawse (Prompt. Parv.), pause (1528), F. pause, L. pausa.]

1. A pause; a short interval between courses of food; a short interval of silence. Also to mak a paus, to pause for a short while.b. To mak a paus to (another), to cause him to stop in astonishment, give him pause, pull him up.(1) 1456 Hay II. 123/19.
Ȝit suld thou mak a paus betuene coursis of mete 1513 Doug. i. xi. 57.
Eftyr the first paws and that cowrs neir gane … The goblettis gret … Thai fill(2) a1500 Seven S. 2647.
The child said schir … Gar mak scilens that all may heire … Than for scilens he maid a pavs Ib. 2751.b. a1500 Seven S. 2734.
God wait … Gif that scho maide to me that paus With all scho couth with hir to ly

2. In music, a measured interval of silence. Also a written or printed symbol of this. c1550-c1580 Art of Music i.
Music mensurall … is … the perfyt securitie and ewident distinction of all essenciall nottis mesuris and pausis Ib. 4.
Quhat is ane paus ? It is ane figur or ane virgule … hawin for ane sing of tasiturnitie missorit with artificial sylence eftur the quantatie of ewerrie noit till it appropriat Ib. 4 b; etc.
Quhow monye kyndis of pausis ar nemmit? As mony kyndis of pausis ar nemnit as sindrie noittis