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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.

Pakket, Packet, Pa(c)quet(t, n.¹ Also: pakkat, -it, paket(t, -at(t, -eat, -it, pac(c)at, -ette, packett, -eit, -it(t, -iet, paccket, packed(d, pacquette, pacquett, packquet; (parkquet). [e.m.E. pacquet (? 1516: see Pakkald n. 3), pacquette (1533), packet, med.L. (Anglo-L.) paccettum (1304); cf. also 16th c. F. pacquet (1510 in Godef.), e.m.Du. and LG. pakket.Of somewhat doubtful origin, but possibly orig. an Eng. dimin. of Pak n.¹ Cf. also Pakkald and Pakkard.]

1. A more or less large bundle or package of goods or merchandise, tied together for transportation or storage. 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 158.
For fraucht of ane pakket send hame in Johne Brounis schipe 1547 Perth Guildry 253 (14 Oct.).
Andrew Gilboun tuke to preif he coft and schippit in the soundis in an pakkit with Duncane Wilsonis wiff xvj stane iij quarteris lynt 1550–2 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XXVII. 52.
The … complenaris having the ferdellis ballis and pakkettis of the … merchandice c 1559 Innes Rev. XVI. 129.
And uther tua paccatis of the best capis and vestimentis 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 175. 1571 St. A. Kirk S. 354.
He brocht ane pakkat of gear furtht of Henry Anderson, and pat in the said chalmer 1572 Crim. Trials I. ii. 32.
Four pakkatis of scheip skynnis … stollin be the commoune thevis 1578 Mill Mediæv. Plays 339.
Ane packet of sairkis slevis and hois 1589-1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 72 b.
Ane paket cloyth 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 97.
For the alledgit stowth of ane pakatt contening seargeis and uther coistlie wairis of the schipe 1622-6 Bisset II. 223.
Siclyke pacquettis, bollis, maillis tunnis etc. be nocht struckin up

2. A small package or parcel; a packet. 1561 Inv. Q. Mary 43.
Ane litle pacquet of lyvelie leiffis of holine 1585 Edinb. Test. XV. 40.
Four pakkattis of glaspis price of the pakket v s. 1594 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 326.
Ane pakit of great weyght, which we juge to be gould 1616 Edinb. Test. XLIX. 160.
Preines at sextene schillingis the packet 1641 Anal. Scot. I. 137.
Considerable pacquets of seeds & plants were yearly sent hither from abroad

3. A packet or bundle of letters (also, papers). 1566–7 Treas. Acc. XII. 40.
Ane pacquett of clois writtingis of our soveranis to the lard of Cesfurde 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III. 117.
[He] was takin at Dover with … some packedis of letters Ib. 119.
With certane packeddes of letters to France 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 594.
I have delivered this nycht to the postmaster heir a pakeat of lettres 1633 T. Hope Diary 3.
Sent ane pacquet of letteris to the Erll Stirling secretar 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 269.
A pacquet of instructions to Conway at Newcastle 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 220.
Packquet c1650 Spalding I. 300.
Packed Ib. II. 48.
Packet 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 608.
A paquett of letters intercepted by the scoute master of the enimies 1666 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 540.
For a packet of lettres to Scotland [18/-] 1695 Acts IX. 418/1.
All pacquets of papers to pay each one as triple letters

b. (Without the addition of letteris): A packet of letters or dispatches. 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 541.
Not as direct to you, but as sent in Maister Randolphis pacquett 1563 Reg. Privy C. I. 244. 1567 Sel. MSS. Q. Mary 173.
I have resavit your majesties pacquettes … be Moinsieur Du Croc 1568 Reg. Morton I. 41.
I ressauit … ane pakatt of the quenis maiestie sent to me 1569 Ib. 45.
Sen my pacquett wes directit to ȝow this efternune, I have ressavit a letter 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III. 278.
Becaus all the wrytinges wer inclosit in a pacquet 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 356. 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII. 67.
Now this day is two paquettis cum to the secretary 1586–7 Ib. IX. 264. 1593 Treas. Acc. MS. 80 (2).
For convoying ane packquet fra Londoun to Scotland 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI. 566.
Twa … post hors … convenient for the service of his majesteis pakattis onlie 1611 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 110.
And bydes ȝour answer of my last pakatt 1615 Ib. 131.
Packit 1641 T. Hope Diary 134.
With ane litill pacquet in hardin 1645 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 132.
Efter I had closit my pacquet … I ressauit … a packeit from [etc.] c1650 Spalding I. 83.
And there [they] brak wp the kingis packet 1657 Laing MSS. I. 305.
Pakets 1666 Ib. 353.
Paccette 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 4.
And the other witness depones as to private packetts sent to particular persones

4. A parcel of letters as conveyed by courier, esp. the official or state courier; the carriage of letters by courier; the public ‘mail’, the post.Also the express or (chiefly) flying packet.Also the merchant packet, Marchand n. and a. B 1 (3).(1) 1586-7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 42.
I vould not vryt this plainly in my last, because it ves sent only by pacquet vithout a sure berar 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI. 567.
That [everyone] … mak frie passage to all sik as sall ryd poist, aither in cairrying of pacquet or utherwayes 1608 Highland P. IV. 109.
And with the nixt pacquett to latt us know of your majesteis chose for the lieutennandrie 1608 Conv. Burghs II. 261 (see Pakkald n. 4). 1611 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I. 282.
The hast of the pacquet hes maid me stay to wryt Mr. P.M.'s letter 1612 Ib. 294.
No packett sall runne bot your maiestie sall vnderstand of my discharge of some pairte of my laidening 1615 Highland P. III. 289.
This messenger will bring to your lordschip ane letter … quhilk missed the last paket 1625 Bk. Carlaverock II. 72.
Giff ȝour lordship find not occasioun be pakett [etc.] 1667 Laing MSS. I. 363.
Packiet 1689 Acts IX. 79/1.
To consider of effectuall means for preventing the breaking up of the publick packet 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 75.
I writt to your lordship fully yesternight by the ordinar packet 1692 Proclamation 15 Aug.
The common post, male or packquet Ib.
The packquet or common male from England to this kingdom(2) 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv. 308.
The receipt, as it was transcribed out of the packet of advice from Rome, take as follows(3) 1679 Anal. Scot. II. 197.
To be offered to his majestie from yow by the first express or flying packet 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 20.
I thought fitt to send yow this flying parkquet [etc.] Ib.
This day … I received a flying packet from your lordship Ib. 75.
And all these other letters … which they desired might be quickly sent, which is the occasione of this flying paccket Ib. 135.
Yours to the king, which I received by an flying paket, I delyvered 1689 Melville Corr. 130.

b. Attrib.With letteris (= as conveyed by the state post), bearer and boy, and (= mail-) boat.(1) c1650 Spalding I. 98.
Quhairin wes also packed letteris direct fra his majestie(2) 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 32.
Whither … he did not see [him] … send away these … stollen letters … with the pacquet bearer — 1681 Aberd. Council Lett. VI. 316.
I may be the last person your packit boy calls for 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 32.
If they … had not receaved from the packitt boyes … the saids bypacquets or byletters rolled about with paper Ib. 33.(3) 1695 Acts IX. 418/2.
To keep and maintain pacquet boats to go weekly … from Portpatrick … to Donachadee in Ireland 1711 Conv. Burghs IV. 513.
If a packquet boat were setled betueen John of Groats house … and Kirkwall

5. ? A wrapping or covering for a palliasse or mattress.Cf. Pakkald n. 5. 1562 Treas. Acc. XI. 228.
To Peir Martene, tapeser, xx elnis of poldawie canves to be ane palȝais and pacat