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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.

Mussel(l, n. Also: musel(l, -all, mwsell, muzell, [ME. and e.m.E. musell (c 1410), -le, mosel (1426), -ul, mussel(l, e.m.E. muzzel(l, mousel(l, etc., OF. musel, muzel, mousel (F. museau), med. L. musellum. Cf. also Missel(l n.]

1. The muzzle or nose and mouth of an animal. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 521.
[Bucephalus was] small at the musell Ib. 641.
The hors fell doun on kneis … And vp his musell held to kis his hand

2. A muzzle or covering fixed over an animal's nose and mouth. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 577.
The prince of Capadoce tuke the destreir And langald him … With hilter and with chenȝe & musell as a bere Ib. 592.
Thay lousit the musellthat closit was with a gin 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 29.
Ane mvsall for ane byteand hors 1599 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 342.
For leischis, mussellis, collaris and doges cupplis

b. ? Also, an ornamental piece of armour covering a horse's nose. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1869.
His trapour of his hors and his musell Oure fret with stanis of price

3. a. The muzzle or bridle of a plough. = Missel(l n. 1. 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 26.
To gett thame knawlege quha had stollin thair plew irnes fittick and mwsell

b. The muzzle or mouth of a gun. = Missel(l n. 2. 1678 Treas. Acc. I. p. ccxxiii.
Ane unsyzed gunn callit Mons Meg, diameter in the muzell 19½ inches

4. A muffler or chin-cloth, as worn by women. = Missel(l n. 3 and Muf(f)ell n.‘A large square of material diagonally folded and worn over the chin and mouth, and occasionally included the nose’, to protect the complexion or as a disguise: see C. W. and P. Cunnington Handbook of English Costume in the Sixteenth Century (1954) 187 (s.v. Muffler). Also b. applied to a similar mask worn by lepers. In this sense appar. chiefly Sc.; also north. e.m.E. (1580–1). 1542–3 Treas. Acc. VIII. 175.
Deliverit to be thame twa coronettis and twa muselis, ½ elne ane naill blak velvet 1562 Ib. XI. 227.
Ane elne j quarter of blak welvot to be hude, musell and turet 1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 60 b.
Ane kyle huid … and bongrace and ane musell of veluot 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 31.
Skin-clouts, nightsmocks, musselsb. 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 237.
[To see] that thai [the lepers] gang vpone the calsay syd with thair mussellis on thair faice and clopperis