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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.

Mak, n.² Also: mack, make, maik, mayck. [ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. make, f. Mak v.]

1. Manner, way.Only in such adv. phrases as on that mak, apon na mak. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 790.
Quhen scho saw the haly man One that mak de c1475 Wall. x. 554.
To rewll the ost on a gud mak he gais a1500 Seven S. 749.
Seiknes … That he couth stanche apon na mak [: tak] 1535 Stewart 8906.
Vpoune this mak [: but lak] To purcheis peice Ib. 19007.
Ane visioun … Commanding him vpone the samin mak, The richt arme bane of that apostill tak

2. The way in which something is made. a. Of a living being; Form, shape, build; appearance. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 967.
He rydis ane hors that is of mak meruell Ib. 1548.
Baith of Grece and mekill of ane make And of ane age c1460 Thewis Gud Women 88.
Flam nocht the flouris at wyll faid To mend hir mak [v.r. the mak] at God has maid a1500 Prestis of Peblis 665.
Ane semely man of mak sa semit he c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 1.
Ane mvrlandis man of vplandis mak 15.. Christis K. 181 (M).
The millar was of manlie mak a1568 Fethe Bann. MS. 245 a/5*.
Hir bewty and hir maikles maik a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. 37.
Sum greater mayck, I wait, he [Jupiter] had gart mak, Hir to haue stollin c1600 Montg. Suppl. xii. 11.
Ane cumlie mak, ȝe haif na maik

b. Of things: Shape, style, fashion. a1400 Leg. S. ix. 224.
Bundyne with chenȝeis of fule mak 1513 Doug. xii. vii. 45.
Wyth habyt schapyn on surrugyn mak 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 141.
Ane siluer belt of the auld mak

3. The action of manufacturing (clothes). c 1631 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B. 15 b.
Maid to ȝour wyf ane wylicoit for mak of it is xij s. c 1643 Ib. 59 b.
For maik of the dowblet, [£]2, 19 s. 1643–4 Misc. Spald. C. V. 107.
For mack of thair clothes