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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.

Mercat-day, n. Also: mercatt-, mercate-, merkat(e)-, merket(t)-, mercket- and -daye. = Market-day.(1) 1450 Ayr Chart. 28.
Nouthir on the merkate day na yit nane uthir day of the wolk … sauffand anerly on the fare day 1477 Edinb. Chart. 140.
The merkittis to be haldin … apoun the merket dayis, fare dayis and all vther dayis neidfull c1475 Wall. ii. 80.
Thedyr he past apon the mercate day 1487 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 53.¹
That ilk day be fre mercat day to all our souerane lordis liegis landmen that cumis to this burgh with victuallis 1490 Paisley B. Rec. 39 [see Mercat-cros n.(b)].¹ 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 325/1. 1513 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 192. 1518 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 178.
To cum with thair breid … on twa merkat dayes in the owlk Wedinsday and Fryday 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 66.
For wrang doun in bargannyng upone the mercat daye 1562 Dysart Rec. 17.
It is statut and ordanit that the mercat day salbe upon the Saturday and that nae mercheandise be maid upon Sonday 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Stallangiatores.
Ilk mercat daye 1612 St. A. Baxter Bks. 77.
Vpon ony merkat day 1624 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 48.
[To] go to the cockstulle the next mercatt day 1629 Linlithgow B. Rec. 27 Feb.
Ewerie mercatt day 1639 Baillie I. 172.
They obtained the King's leave to change that mercat-day 1641 Peebles B. Rec. I. 104. 1652 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 133.
On Friday nixt, being the mercat day 1654 Conv. Burghs III. 382.
Upon the publict mercat dayes 1655 Old Kirk Chron. 20.
The mercket day of Dunbar 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 433. 1689 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 250.
To visit and seight each fair and mercat day(2) 1591 Bk. Old. Edinb. C. XXXI. 175.
Mungo Banks officer … maid faithe that he had maid thrie mercat dayis and lauchfully comprysit the guids … poyndit be him fra John Dundas … and the maist that was bidden [etc.]