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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.

Medwyf(e, Mede-wif, Meidwif, Midwif, Maidwyfe, n. Also: meyd-, mide-, myd(e)-, mad-, meadand -wiff(e, -wyff(e, -wyiff, -vyf(f. [ME. and e.m.E. mydwyffe (1303), -wife (a 1400), medwif, midwife (15th c.), of uncertain formation. More often written as one word but sometimes as two.] A midwife.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 711.
As med-wyf to me thu was Ib. xxxvi. 142.
[Mary] mad hir seruice As medwyfe … & [etc.] 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 47.
To the mede wif 1506–7 Ib. III. 371. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 185.
To the medwyff at held Adam of Cokburneis barne 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 17.
Medwyf a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 42. 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 355.
To the nureis, rokeris, medwyfeis and porters 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 159.
To cum to hir to be medwyiff Ib. 157. 1666 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 531.
To my Lady Athollis medvyff(b) 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 235.
And the curat and meid wif suld knaw this forme [of baptism] 1531 Bell. Boece II. 54.
The meidwiffes brint the samin [a monster] 1538 Treas. Acc. VI. 446.
For hir meydwyfe 1547 Ib. IX. 126. 1549 Compl. 129/10.
His mother vas ane meyd vyf 1566 Treas. Acc. XI. 512. 1579 St. A. Kirk S. 443. 1594 Mar & Kellie MSS. 42.
The meidwyff and … tua cummeris 1597 Crim. Trials II. 28.
That his wyffe had twa meidwyffes 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 136.
The witnesbirth of Mareoun Mudie the meidwyfe for the tyme 1614 Crim. Trials III. 270. 1632 Justiciary Cases I. 211.(c) a1538 Abell 43 b.
The myde wyffis 1566 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 90.
Baptism by women or midewives condemned 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 307.
Mydwyf 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 68.
In the mid-wiues handes a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1668.
Unskilful midwifs 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS. 27 Nov.
Ane great number of wemen accompanyis the midwyff with ane chyld to the kirk to be bapteisit a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 292.(d) 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 115.
The quenys maidwiff 1579 St. A. Kirk S. 446.
Margaret Brown, maidwyffe in Strawethie 1582 Ib. 485. 1583 Ib. 513. Ib. 512.
Madwyffe 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 163.
Maidwyiff 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 249. 1600-1610 Melvill 221.(e) 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 306.
Agnes Lawsown, meadwyf in Balbuthie