▪ I. † ˈpeisant, ˈpesant, a. Obs.
Forms: 5–6 pesaunt, 6–7 peisant, 5 peysaunt, 6 peysant, pessant, 7 peizant; (also 5–6 Sc. paisand, paysand).
[ME. a. OF. pesant, pr. pple. of peser to weigh, peise; in spelling peisant assimilated to the Eng. form of the vb.; the Sc. paisand was prop. pr. pple. of paise, peise, = peising.]
Heavy. a. lit. Having great weight, ponderous. b. Forcible, as a blow given with a heavy body. c. fig. That weighs or presses heavily upon one; oppressive; toilsome. d. Weighed down, oppressed, as with drowsiness, etc.
| α c 1450 Merlin 119 Thei smote on his helme grete strokes and pesaunt. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour cxxxiv, His hede was ryght pesaunt and heuy. 1520 St. Papers Hen. VIII, VI. 55 He had seen Your Grace wellde one [sword] more pesaunt then the same. 1584 Hudson Du Bartas' Judith ii. in Sylvester's Du Bartas (1621) 700 Yet like the valiant Palme they did sustaine Their peisant weight, redressing vp againe. 1600 Rowlands Knave of Clubs (Percy Soc.) 5 Misers..Which with their moyling care and pessant paines, Had scraped thousands. |
| β c 1470 Golagros & Gaw. 463 Pellokis paisand to pase, Gapand gunnys of brase. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. vi. 61 Vnder the paysand and the hevy charge. |
Hence † ˈpeisantly adv., heavily.
| 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. vii. viii, His strokes..were so peysantly on hym sette. |
▪ II. peisant
obs. form of peasant.