phonetic corruption of AND per se, the olā name of the character &; still in common use in the dialects from Cumberland to Cornwall: see AMPERSAND.
1706. Harl. MS., in Strutt, Sports & Past. (1876), 507. XY wyth Esed And per se—Amen.
1878. Dickinson, Cumberl. Gl., 125. Ampassy.
1880. Couch, E. Cornw. Gl., Ampassy.
