Sc. Also 6–7 transs, 6–9 trans. [Known from 16th c.: origin obscure. The sense is satisfied by L. transitus, which had the concrete sense ‘passage, way through,’ as well as the abstract ‘act of passing through or over.’ But L. transitus could hardly have given Sc. transs, trans without passing through French, and the concrete sense is not recorded in OF.] A passage between buildings, or across between two streets; an entry, an alley, a close; also, a passage into, within, or through a house.
1545. in Pennecuik, Blue Blanket (1756), 34. Lands … lyand in the burgh of Edinburgh, upon the South-side of the high street thereof, betwixt the trans of the vennel called Hair’s-closs, and the trans of the vennel called Borthwick’s-closs.
1555. Burgh Rec. Edinb. (1871), II. 214. The Freir Wynd heid an ather syde of the trans of the Hie gait.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 333. Quhilk was left waist of befoir, as transses and throw passagis.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. 461. Carried … to the end of a Trance or stone-Gallery.
1659. Torriano, Passaggio … a trance from one room to another.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1851), II. 327. [He] causit draw his horss out of the stables into the transs.
1826. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 156. He had hardly put his hat on a peg in the transe.
1835. Hogg, Tales & Sk. (1837), V. 222. So proud of ’squiring Lady Jane Gordon down the stairs and along the trance.
1883. Chamb. Jrnl., 210. From this single street [of Lerwick] steep lanes or trances lead up to the ridge.
fig. 1632. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 97. A little sight of that dark trance you must go through ere you come to glory. Ibid. (1645), Tryal & Tri. Faith, Ded. (1845), 4. Time is but a short trance: we are carried quickly through it.
b. attrib. and Comb., as trance-door, -window.
1811. W. Aiton, Agric. Surv. Ayrs., 114. The cattle … entered by the same door with the family; the one turning to the one hand, by the trans-door to the kitchen, and the other turning the contrary way by the heck-door to the byre or stable.
1880. J. F. S. Gordon, Chron. Keith, etc., 66. Several juveniles had … attempted to escape by ‘the Trance window’ on to the roof of the Weigh House.
1890. J. Service, Thir Notandums, v. 25. At the trance door Provost Painch’s fit took the boss.
