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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.

Mes-buk(e, n. Also: mess(e)-, mis(e)- and -boke, -bwk, -buik, -buyk, -bwik, -boulk, -bowyk, -book. [ME. messeboc (Orm.), -bok, messboke (Prompt. Parv.), OE. mæsseboc.] A mass-book, missal.Latterly also appar. applied more loosely to any Roman Catholic service-book.(a) 1438 Montgomery Mem. 30.
Aythyr has geffyn othyr thair bodyly ath apon the mes buk 1444–5 Peebles B. Rec. I. ii.
He sal wryte the day of the obyte in the mes buke of Sir Wilyham Adesoun 1454 Bishop Kennedy's Test. in Coll. St. Salvator 158.
A mes buk that is daly in our chapel; a prety mes buk notyt 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 39.
Item for a mes buke to the Quenys alter 1480 Peebles B. Rec. I. 187.
And to gar wryt in the kalandar of the mes buk the day and the anniuersar 1495 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 316.
Ane new mes buyk 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 68.
For thre mes bukis prentit, ilk pece xxxiij s. 1503 Reg. Soltre 158. 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 356. 1506–7 Ib. 286. 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 223/2.
For imprenting … mes bukis and portuus efter the use of our realme with additiounis and legendis of Scottis sanctis now gaderit to be ekit thairto 1509 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 46.
Ane mes bwik … the quhilk is parchment one the baksyd wettin [sic] that the crucifix is one [etc.] 1509–10 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 84. 1512 Wigtown B. Ct. 5 a.
To be swern on the mes-boulk 1516 Thanes of Cawdor 128.
Apon ane mes bowyk 1518 Ib. 129. 1518 Edinb. Hammermen 97 b.
To ane skynnar for puttin one of the couering one the mes buk iiij d. 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 410. 1542 Ib. VIII. 51. 1549 Prot. Bk. J. Crawford 38 b.
The bischop … tuk institution of the samyn be deliuerance to him of the mes bwk 1549 Soc. Ant. XI. 91. 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 350. 1587 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 722.
Sir Andrew Nesmith … is … of new well provided … in messe books 1622 Perth Kirk S. MS. 9 July.
Accuseit for … saying of mes oppinlie or reading on mes buikis(b) 1511 Treas Acc. IV. 322.
For ane mis buik bocht be him to the chapele —1512 Ib. 358 (see Mes n.¹ 1 d).