▪ I. † pesant Obs. rare.
[a. F. pesant (11th c. in Littré), pr. pple. of peser to weigh, peise; also as n. ‘weight’. Cf. peisant a.]
1. The amount that a thing weighs; weight.
| c 1500 Melusine xxi. 142, I shall gyue hym hys pesaunnt or weyght of syluer. Ibid. xxxvii. 300 Al gaf you to eyther of vs your pesaunt or weyght of fyn gold. |
2. ? Name of a coin or weight. (Or ? bezant.)
| 1577 Hellowes Gueuara's Chron. x. 35 That he should..giue 100000 pesants of golde [pesantes de oro] to paye the armie. |
▪ II. pesant
obs. f. peasant; var. peisant a. Obs.