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: 1490-1592
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Pippan(e, -en, n. Also: pyp(p)-; pepp-; (peppenin). [Of unknown origin. Cf. late ME. pype Pipe n.1, also (once, in Paston Lett.) tube or roll on which thread was wound and on which a definite length was bought; also e.m.E. pepp'en thread (1571 in Beard Dictionary, given, ? erroneously, under piping-thread).] A reel (of thread), on to which a definite length was wound. Also attrib. and comb. 1503 Edinb. Hammermen in Mill Mediæval Plays 229.
For a pippane of silk to mend our banaris 1505 Treasurer's Accounts III. 40.
ij pypanes blak silk 1506 Ib. 351.
For … tua pippanes rede silk for the kingis scarlet hos, v s. vj d. 1507 Edinb. Hammermen 62.
Pippenis 1547 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 138.
Foure doubill pyppanis of quhite silk 1569 Edinburgh Testaments I. 274.
xv peppenins of reid & ȝellow silk … xxx d.attrib. 1490 Treasurer's Accounts I. 189.
and comb. (1) viij vnce of pyppane silk to be frenȝeis 1491 Ib.
Reid pyppane sylk to be beltis 1577 Edinburgh Testaments V. 326 b.
Tua vnces of pippen silk price of the vnce v s. — 1573 Edinburgh Testaments II. 335.
xxvj vnces of pippen threid … xxix s.(2) 1592 Edinburgh Testaments XXV. 24 b.
xj gros of peppen heidis at xl d. the gros
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"Pippan n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pippane>
