Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Main,) Mane sé, Maine sey, n. Also: mayne and sea. [e.m.E. mayne see (1526), maine sea; Main a. 7: cf. also ON. megin-sjó-r.] a. A stretch of open or deep water. b. The open sea. 1535 Stewart 53938.
Thair lyis thair ane mekle bed of sand … [over which] the watter growis to ane deip mane se 1580 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 174.
Chaissing of thame [salmon] agane in the mayne sey 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV. 216.
Laidnit with grene fishe … gottin upoun the mayne sey 1596 Dalr. I. 33/11.
A nuik … of land, quhair is committed lyke a battel amang the surges of the maine sey Ib. 63/2.
[The Orkneys] lyis … partelie situat towarde the mayne sey and partelie towarde the sey called Deucaledonicum 1611 Crim. Trials III. 131.
Ye … left his corps thair, to be cairied to the mayne sea be ane vtterlie wind