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.
Quotation dates: 1420-1699
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Mavis, -eis, n. Also: mavise, -ice, -ys(e, mawis, mauuis; maweis, -eys; mav-, mawes; meweis. [ME. and e.m.E. mavis, -ys (14th c.), -yce, -ies (15th c.), F. mauvis masc., OF. mauvis fem. (12–13th c.), med. L. malvitino (13th c.), Anglo-L. maviscus (c 1422).]In plur. with or without inflection.
The song-thrush.In verse freq. in collocations with other song-birds espec. the Merle.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 712.
The mavis and the merle syngis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1716 (Bann.).
Heir the mawisis [v.rr. maueis] sing and birdis mo a1500 Ib. 871, 1338; etc. 1497 Treasurer's Accounts I. 338.
To Liale the falconare quhen he brocht the King the mavis fra Striuelin 1502–3 Ib. II. 360. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 513. c1500-c1512 Id. xlviii. 164.
The mavys 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 236.
The merl, the mavys and the nychtyngale c1530-40 Stewart 12326. Bann. MS. 315 a/76. 1580-92 James VI Lusus R. 24.
As mauuisis of kynde are geuin to sing 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxvi.
The merle and the mauice trig 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III. 99.
Blackbirds or ossils, mavises 1624 Grant Chart. 337.
My mauise to be givin to … my sister 1658 R. Moray Lett. MS. 12/22 Feb.
For they sing all they say like mauises 1670–80 Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies 56. 1679-81 Short Compend. xvii.
Where mavise they heard sweetly sing(b) c1420 Wynt. i. 1352.
Bathe merle and maweys [C. mawis, W. mavisis] mellys off myrtht 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 731.
The myrthfull maueis, with the gay goldspink, The lustye larke 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 39/20.
The maueis maid myrtht for to mok the merle a1550 Tayis Bank 32. a1568 Scott v. 7. a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxix. 5. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 4. 1580 Hume Promine 109.
The merle and maweis, changeing notes nice 1587-99 Hume 32/189.
The maveis and the philomeen(c) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 189.
The myrthfull maues maid gret melodie c1590 J. Stewart 137/9.
The osile and the mawes meed great beir 1606 Craig ii. 156.
Both larke and maues shall abone Thy head [etc.](d) 1630 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 3.
Blakburds or osills, meweis, thrushes
