glossary of archaic Scots terms M

Scotland - a glossary of archaic terms, as well as a number of Modern Scots words and phrases, useful for genealogical research. Legal terms, words linked to property and possessions, found in wills and testaments.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

MADDIR ; see s. Ballandis.

MAGISTER, Mr. This prefix signifies that the person so called is a graduate of a university.

MAILLS ; see s. House-maills.

MAINS (Mayns), the chief or home farm.

MAISTER, master.

MALIS, mailings, small farms ; "a cow's mail, the rent of a cow's walk or grass."

MALTHOUSE, brewery ; maltman, brewer.

MANOR PLACE, dwellinghouse, mansion of an estate.

MARABLE (marbole, marboll), marble.

MARCAT, mercat, market.

MARCHAND, marchant, merchant.

MAREIT, married.

MEASOUR, measure.

MEETING HOUSE, episcopal chapel, or other dissenting place of worship.

MEMELL (handles of forks), made of oak. Fr. Memeli.

MERCAT, market, mercattis, markets.

MERCATOR, mercatrix, merchant (of a man or woman).

MERCHANDIS LETTER, letter of the merchants.

MET AND MEASOUR, mete and measure.

MEYDVYF, midwife.

MILN (milne, myl), mill.

MISPRISON (mispreson, misperson), to slander ; also to conceal crime, e.g., misprision of treason.

MODIR, mother.

MORTCLOTH DUES, dues payable for the use of the public pall (death cloth) at a funeral.

MORTIFYED MONEY, money left by dead persons in charity.

MOYR, mother. See s. Fayr.

MUCK, dung, manure.

MUIR, moor.

MUIS, bushels, measures.

MUKED (of land), mucked, manured.

MULLER, moulded work, frame of a picture ; cp. Mullion.

MULTURE, multour, dewetie, payment in grain and money for having corn ground.

MUTCKIN, a pint (English).

MYLNE, myl, mill.

MYLE, mile.

MYRE, marsh.

TO INDEX

This glossary is under constant revision. We welcome all contributions of archaic terms linked to Scotland, that may be helpful in genealogical research. Please complete the SUGGESTIONS FORM with your ideas, additions and corrections. Thanks!

My saull and lyfe stand up and see
Quha lyis in ane cribe of tre:                      [quha - who; ane - an; tre - wood]
Quhat Babe is that, sa gude and fair?         [quhat - what; sa - so]
It is Christ, Goddis Sone and air.                [God's Son and heir]

Scots translation by the Wedderburn brothers c. 1565
of the hymn 'Vom Himmel hoch' by Martin Luther

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