A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1438-1490, 1550-1626, 1681
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Gage, Gadge, n.1 [ME. gage (14th c.), OF. gage, guage. Cf. Wage n.]
1. A pledge for the performance of some undertaking or obligation. In early use esp. in gage of battle.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 6222.
Thow ȝarned to haue sa great ane gage, Now tak that, vassale, for thy wage 1456 Hay I. 75/5.
To prove a mannis caus criminale be gage of armes in close bataill 1456 Ib. 256/7.
Till enquere all the cas that law levis gage of bataill in c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi. 86.
Thow sall los a gage Quhilk neuir in erd sall be redemyt agayne 1490 Irland Mirr. I. 27/45.
The haly spreit … is the manere of a gage and wede, to mak ws sure and sekyre of oure heretage 1550 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 452.
To Johnne Andersoun, for halsbedis, braislattis, and certane uthir gagis 1591 Edinburgh Testaments XXIII. 275 b.
The lord Jesus … is abill to keip my gagis quhilk I haue committit to him vnto that greit day(b) a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxxii. 15.
Quhilk is the gadge and pand Maist suir that I can geif 1622-6 Bisset II. 236/14.
Nae hostillare … may tak … maryneris armoure in gadge or wad 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 77.
By usury on wedds and gadges Taken from widows
2. pl. Wages. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
Hys gagis to be payit to hym or hys deput of the archdenry 1563-1570 Ib.
The gagis of the rectour, censouris, thesaurair, and beddel 1612 Lett. Eccles. Affairs I. 297.
My sone-in-law, … has exercised ane publick professioune … without onie gages
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"Gage n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gage_n_1>
