Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Mariag(e, n. Also: -iadg(e, -iadj, -iagh, -iaug, -yag(e, -yiage, -ie(d)ge, -yedge, -eige, -eag(e, -eagh(e, -iaig(e, -iea(i)g(e, -uag, marriag(e, -iadge, -yadge, -iege, -eaghe, mara(i)ge, -ache, -eg(e, -edge, -i(d)ge, -uge, marra(d)g(e, mairia(i)ge, mairage, meriag(e, mereage, mearage. [ME. (1297) and e.m.E. mariage, -yage, etc., F. mariage (12th c.), med. L. mariagium. Cf. Maritage.]

1. The state of being married; matrimony, wedlock.To ask etc. (another) in (into, also of, til) (= in order to, with a view to) mariage. But mariage, unmarried. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 84.
Thre douchteris he had & … men … of he parage Thame askyt in-to maryage Ib. xliii. 16.
A ȝungmane That in maryag vald hire haf tan Ib. 20.
The day … that thai twa That band of mariag suld ma c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2019. c1420 Wynt. ii. 76. Ib. vi. 369. 1456 Hay I. 190/28.
God … was borne under the umbre of mariage Ib. II. 32/12.
The ath of mariage c1475 Wall. iv. 723.
Thai … said scho suld be weddyt with ane knycht … that was but mariage 1490 Irland Mir. I. 153/23.
Sche … bure jn hire mariage … the blist Sone of God c1500-c1512 Dunb. Twa Mar. W. 42. Id. xxxi. 8. 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 220/2.
Quhether in lauchfull mariage or atherways 1513 Doug. iv. x. 26.
Or sal I lawly sum lord Numydane Pray and beseik of mariage 1533 Bell. Livy II. 9/3.
I nurist hir to solempne mariage and nocht to the bordell 1533 Boece i. iv. 40 b. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 89.
He that jonis his virgin to marriage 1555 Wemyss Chart. 183.
The said Dauyd sall haue in mariege the said Margret 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 114.
Mariaige a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 128/23.
Nother sal they mare nor be giffin til mariage 1563 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xlvi.
Allyat … be mareage a1578 Pitsc. I. 189/2.
Marieaige 1596 Dalr. II. 391/14. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bastardus. 16.. Hist. Kennedy 3.
Marrage 1622-6 Bisset II. 174/12.
Maryiage 1652 Burnett of Leys 281.
Marradg

2. The action, process or ceremony of solemnising or entering matrimony, marrying or espousing.See also Complete v. and p.p., Han(d)fast v. 1 and Handfastin(g vbl. n., June v. 6 (2), for some further examples.(1) a1400 Leg. S. x. 346.
Of all the sacramentis sewyne Mariage was fyrste that God of hevine … mad 1428 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 460. 1456 Hay I. 21 marg.
The mareagh of kyrk men 1465 Buccleuch Mun. II. 66.
Ay and a quhilest ane vther son … cum to lauchful age of mariage 1505 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 347.
As moble of mariage 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 249. 1512 Grant Chart. 58.
Mareag 1551 Hamilton Cat. 89.
Marriage 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 128.
Maruag 1562-3 Winȝet I. 85/5.
Quhy caus ȝe at mariage the persones than mariit, to tak wthiris be the hand? 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 255.
Mariaug 1568 Cal. Sc. P. II. 592.
Mariadg a1578 Pitsc. I. 245 marg.
Marieag 15.. Black Bk. Taymouth 168.
The freris … With mair proffit throw ane mariage making Nor all the Lentrane in the kirk to preche 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 278.
The saittis in the plaice of baptisme and mariage about the pulputt a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 339.
Dead and mariag makis terme day 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX. 27.
[In the Isles:] mariageis contractit for certane yeiris simpliciter dischairgit and the committaris thairof haldin … as fornicatouris 1614 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 36 b.
Thair bandis of mariage to be proclamit 1626 Elgin Rec. II. 195.
[He] gave in 48 schillingis for the want of the commandements afore his mariadge Ib. 200. 1671 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 78.
Mariadj 1662 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 28 Jan.
For his disordorlie mariage 1698 Fam. Innes 13.
Marryadge(b) 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 246.
Till him … at his maredge, ane fedder bede 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 184.
Promys of maruge 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 91.
Marege 1627 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II. 15 Apr.
Preiudicial to pupillis that thair geir is not tean order withe befoir thair [mothers'] second mariges 1688 Misc. Bann. C. II. 294.
By contract of maridge(c) 1509 Douglas Chart. 190.
Touchter for meriage complettit betuix [etc.] 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 313.
Decernit to proceid in mereage wyth Grissil Rauff 1573 Riddell Tracts 190.
The tyme of the said last allegit meriage(d) 1613 Southesk MSS. 14.
Mairiage(e) 1654 Stirling Ant. II. 17.
For there scandelous mearage(2) 1423 Melville Chart. 23.
Becaus of the mariage off Elizabeth, his dowchtir, my wiff 1479 Douglas Chart. 110.
For the mariag of my dochtir 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 183.
This Frenche man … will dyssyr in his maistyris nayme the mariaig of owr maistres 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 50. c1575 Balfour Pract. 96. 1616 Crim. Trials III. 429.
To accuse … Johnne Guthrie for mariage of two wyfes c1615 Chron. Kings 51.
[Malcolm II] reserwit … the dowarreis gewing for the mareage of the eldest sonis of … his lordis [etc.] … callit in Scottis the ward and releiff(3) a1538 Abell 8* a.
Marache with the brothirris wyf quhow ma it be(4) a1578 Pitsc. I. 61 h. of ch.
Mairiage betwix the Erlle of Murray and Catherin Settoun(5) a1578 Pitsc. I. 45 h. of ch.
The mairiage of the fair Mayden of Galloway upone Gros James sone … Mairiage on Guid Fryday 1611 Crim. Trials III. 128.
Be allyance and mairiage of your eldest sone upon the said Sir Thomas his dochter c1650 Spalding II. 22.
The mareage of our Kingis eldest dochter vpone the Prince of Orange eldest sone

b. A marriage ceremony, with accompanying festivities; a wedding. c1420 Wynt. vii. 3551.
To that maryage mony ware Gaddryd 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 245.
Tua clathes of stait for the King and Quene … the tyme of the mariage 1558 Black Bk. Taymouth 128.
Mony lordis … var send out of Scotland til the said mareg a1578 Pitsc. I. 24/23.
Sick … pompe that nevir the lyk was seine at na manis mairiaige 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. iii.
Ganging to thi mariege with thi forsaid hisband 1654 Johnston Diary II. 242.
I was … at his son's mariage 1656 Ellon Par. 121.
Four merks to the poor … at his marriag

c. fig. and in fig. context. 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 235 b.
Before this … haly mariage of the saule with God, it was the hure and lemmane of the Innemy 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 816.

3. A particular matrimonial alliance or union, marriage as proposed or arranged; a person viewed as a (suitable, unsuitable, etc.) marriage-partner, a ‘match’. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2162.
For of him and ȝour nece Idea Think I ane mariage for to ma c1420 Wynt. viii. 40. 1458 Fam. Rose 133.
[To] deliuer William his … apperant air, and his mariage, to the said Huchoun of Rosse, his eme, to be at his will and disponyng 1467 Acts II. 90/1.
To avis … vppone the mariage of our souerain lord … with a conuenient persone of nobile blude 1477 Stewart Mem. 74. 1482 Edinb. Chart. 147.
Providit allwais that the said Edward … sall gif knaulege of his plesur … in takin or refusin of the said mariage a1500 Henr. III. 115/37 (Makc.).
Of mariagis [v.r. marriege] to mel with mowis met 1482 Bamff Chart. 31.
Mariagh 1496 Acta Conc. II. 25.
Profferand to him ane aggreable mariage c1515 Asl. MS. I. 200/22.
He fenȝeit and said he come for mariage 1533 Bell. Livy I. 108/16.
And be this mariage he conquest mony freyndis … amangis the Latynis 1542 Acts II. 411/2.
For contracing of peice and mariage 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I. 15.
Maryedge 15.. Clar. v. 2840.
Of lordis he had diverse mariagis For to inforce with Irland his linagis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46. 1570 Leslie 166. a1578 Pitsc. I. 59 marg.
Marage Ib. 363/16.
Mariaige Ib. 377 h. of ch.
Maraige 1582 St. A. Kirk S. 491. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 172.
A poor man gets a poor mariag 1612 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 115.
Guardaris of minors to mack mariage before thair perfyt yeiris 1612 Montgomery Mem. II. 257.
Unto sic tyme as it sall pleis God provid thame [sc. daughters] marieges 16.. Ouchterlony in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 33.
Eldest son of a second mariage of the Lord Grahame

4. The feudal right of ‘marriage’ and the attendant casualty.The right enjoyed by the superior of ward lands (and also of lands held in feu cum maritagio) of arranging or approving the marriage of an unmarried minor heir succeeding to the vassal's lands; also, the superior's entitlement to a certain sum to be paid by the heir as the ‘avail’ (Avail n. 4) of the marriage, on the heir's attaining majority, or, when the heir married against the superior's wishes, to the ‘double avail’ (i.e., orig., the same amount again): see Balfour Pract. 243 f., Craig Jus Feudale ii. xxi, and Erskine Inst. ii. xviii f. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v.
Maritagium Hæredis, The marriage of ane aire maill or femaill, quhilk is modified and liquidat be the Lordes of the Session to ane certaine summe of money, after consideration of the rentall and valure of the landes perteining to the aire Ib.
The availe of ane aires mariage is either single or double. For gif the superiour requiris not ane aire to marie and the aire marie without his consent, the superiour suld obteine allanerlie for his mariage, be the estimation of the ordinar judge, sa meikle as may be ane competent summe or tocher to the said aire conforme to his ȝeirlie rente 1405 Maxwell Mem. I. 146.
The forsaidis Schir Willame and Schir Robart … has releschyt, remittyt and for gyffin … to the forsaid Erle … al wardis, mariagis and relevis that qwhilom Walter … the … Erlis fadir was … haldin tyl Schir Robart 1417 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 215.
The kyrk … is in possession of the tend penny of all wardis, relefis and mariagis, vscheis of courtis 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 2. 1483 Acta Aud. 114*/1.
Accioun … for the duble avale of the said Archbaldis mariage … becaus [he] … mariit without the consent of … his ourlord Ib. 121*/1.
Becaus … the avale of the mariage … extendis to j^m markis … tharfor the said Alexander sall … pay … twa thousand markis for the doubline of the avale of his mariage 1486 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 76.
Gevin … to my son … the marreaghe of the dochter and ayr til vmquhile Dauid Forestar … or hir failȝeande the nerast mareaghe of his ayr … efter … ane letter of selling … of the saide mareagh maid til me be Allan Kynnarde … our lord til … the forsaid Dauid 1490 Reg. Privy S. I. 2/2.
[A letter] of the gift of the ward and mariage 1491 Acta Conc. I. 195/1, 2.
[To pay] the single avale of the mariage of the said Peronell becaus [he] … maryit withoutlicence of the said Patrik … and as to the double avale [etc.] 1496–7 Ib. II. 46, 58, 60. 1497 Ib. 92. 1498–9 Ib. 329. 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 24/2. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 259/3.
And thar the frehaldaris grantit him ward releif & mariage of thar childer 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 341/2. 1513 Doug. in 1513 Doug. (Sm.) I. p. cix.
Beside mony utheris small wardis and mariagis, quhilkis skairsly may be nowmerit 1528 Reg. Privy S. I. 577/1. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 355.
He tuk ane esy composition of money for hir mariage Ib. (M) II. 389. 1578 Reg. Privy C. III. 21.
His air or airs sal have their awin ward, marriage, releif and nonentres of his Majestie frie a1578 Pitsc. I. 413/11.
Spendand the kingis caswaleteis Of wardis, mariage and benefeis 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 312. 1621 Acts IV. 617/1. 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 217.
Mariadgeiz 1672 Acts VIII. 73/2.
Act for the retouring of taxt marriages 1681 Purves Revenue Crown 32.
Wairdes and mariges … are of two sorts, viz. taxed and untaxed

5. a. In sense 2 in phrases with preps. etc., as in mariage, be way of mareage, for (one's) mariage, to help (one's) mariage, = as a marriage-gift, marriage-portion or dowry.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xli. 107.
My spouse … has giffine me in mariage … his herytage ?1438 Alex. ii. 639.
With hir this citie antife Was geuin in to mariage 1412 Melville Chart. 19. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 88.
Sum land was wont to be gevyn in mariagis 14.. Acts I. 28/2.
Gif ony man has takyn a borowage in fre mariage wyth ony woman 1433 Orkn. & Shetl. Rec. 246.
To Donalde Clerk in mariage as movable gude wyth Janet Law, my sister 1520–1 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 36.
He understuid umquhill George Thomsone and his spous promeist in marriage to geiff to David Cadȝow ii bollis of bere(2) 1391 Lennox Mun. 44.
That the said Erle of the Leuenax … sal paye to the said Erle of Fife … for the mariage of the said Isabel his dochter twa thousand marcis … of the quhilkis [etc.] 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 34.
At Jorge … lord of Angus sall led in to wyfe a dochtyr of ovre lorde the Kyngys and … the Kyng sall gif hym for his mariage all the landys [etc.] 1566 Fam. Rose 247.
[800 merks] promittit … to me … for the mereage and tochir of my sone Robert for the completing of the mereage be the said Robert with Helene Ros(3) 1429 Wemyss Chart. 61.
[35 merks] … be way of mareage payit to me(4) 1562 Will A. Betoun 226.
The haill proffeit att ma be hade be my said executors for the marriage forsaid to be geivine to the marriage of hir said twa dochteris(5) a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 33.
Lord George gaue to his thrie sisters … 1000 pund of his tochar, to help thair mariges 1584 Coll. Aberd. & B. 630.
Ane thousand markis money to the … support of thair maregis quhan happinit to be

b. A marriage-portion or dowry. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 278.
Thus mony gud madyne oft-tyme For fault of mareag in tyme Ar tint for falt of warldis gud 1490 Fam. Rose 153.
Thir personis … sal mak ane sufficiand mareage to be pait to the sadis Huchone for his sonnys mareage a1500 Seven S. 854.
Gif that I wald sell my land … thow wald want thin heretage Thy sisteris want thair mariage

6. Attrib. and comb.With band, bed, burse and penny (a fund and the contributions to it made on one's marriage), money (a fee paid for the marriage ceremony), pand (security for completing the marriage); buik, dask, day, place, saitt (seatt), stule (of or for the marriage ceremony); gere, gude, tocher (= sense 5; all our examples are from the north and north-east).(1) a1585 Maitl. Q. xciii. 3.
Heir tuo wights inburied be … In mariage-band they liued long 1605 Edinb. Surgeons 38.
The said Gilbert besydis the siluer of fremen and enteresse of printeis ressavit fra the bretherin … ilkane of thame vj s. viij d. of mariage pennyis 1606 Ib. 41.
As Dauid Pringle payit to the mariage burse vj s. viij d. 1611 Ib. 50.
To the mariage burse for his secund mariage vj s. viij d. 1634 Kirkcaldy Presb. 76.
David Wilson … compleaneing upon the minister … who deteyns his mariage pand, whilk he laid doun for the space of ane year and ane half 1611-57 Mure Historie … of Rowallane 249.
These thrie kings … did honor with thair mariage bed the daughters of … those onlie of the degree of knychts 1674 Craven Ch. in Orkney 18.
Receaved of mariag money from Wm. Keldall 20 s., which was givine to Nicoll Craigie reader [etc.] 1679 Ib. 83.
Marriage money(2) 1609 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 50.
To tak the cair of the baptisme and mariage buiks — 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II. lx.
The erles are sett in the mairage dask befoir the pulpet 1685 Cramond Ch. Grange 47.
He had kissed his bride in the marriage dask — 1622 Chron. Perth 87.
A supplication … craving a coat … & shoes to his marriage day — 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 225.
For … mending of the saitis of the mariage place — 1560 Ib. 98.
Fyve boltis to the mariage saittis 1600 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 768.
To naill tua bandis to the sta of the mariage seatt ii s. — 1593 S. Leith Rec. i.
Gilbert Storie and his sonne … to be convoyit to ane forme at the back of the marriage stule be the coller 1596 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 7.
The marriage stool(3) 1515 Fam. Rose 185.
For the quhilk mariage [of his daughter] the sad Huchon Ros sall gif sex scor of merkis of mariage geyr 1539 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 199. 1555 Prot. Bk. D. Gray 5.
In name of toichir gud & mareage ger — 1478 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 339.
Fourty pund of the herast and the first payment of the said Alexander Cummynis mariage gud 1488 Rec. Earld. Orkney 332.
Me Katrine … to haf sellit … a tenement … gevin to my fader and moder in to meriagis gude be my grantschir Jhone Harraldsone 1504 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 139. 1575 Prot. Bk. G. Fyiff 9 b.
Ane certane sowme of money … in doit and mariage guid — 1589 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 22 Nov.
The said Jene … haid promesit to the said W^m the sowme of thre hunderit merkis in mariage tocher with the said Margeret