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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MAISLE, n., v. Also mezzle, maesl-, †meszel, meazle; meezle. Sc. forms of Eng. measle. See also Mizzle. [me:zl]

I. n. In pl.: as in Eng., the disease (m.Sc. 1962). Occas. in sing. (Rxb. 1942 Zai). Cf. Mirl, n.¹, 2. Deriv. measlie, -ey, maeslie, covered with spots of or like measles. Hence measly-shankit, having the skin of the legs mottled from sitting too near the fire. See also v.; fig. stingy, miserly, mean (Abd., Gsw. 1962).Sth. 1747 C. D. Bentinck Dornoch (1926) 538:
I do not think her in a right state of health, nor by what I can understand has she been sinc she had the meszels.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 22:
How cou'd ye confess sae muckle to maeslie shanket Marion.Wgt. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 7:
He had a waen that took the mezzles and died.Uls. 1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings 28:
I declare tae ye but it's sumthin' like the maisles.Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 93:
Many people were subsequently afflicted with a “measly hoast”.Edb. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 9:
Had Doddy rued it efter a', The measly-shankit Johnny-Raw!

II. v. To cover as with measles, to blotch the skin; specif. to redden the skin of the legs by sitting too near the fire. Ppl.adj. measlet, scorched, mottled, blotched.Rnf. a.1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1876) 289:
Wealthy pride but ill can hide Your runkl't measl't shins, Callum.Kcb. 1810 R. Cromek Remains 88:
It dreeped down Sawney's meezled shin.Gsw. 1856 “Young Glasgow” Deil's Halloween 25:
Lift up your meazled heads ance mair.Uls. 1929 M. Mulcaghey Ballymulcaghey 131:
She was sittin' on a stool measlin' her shins at the greeshogue.Arg.¹ 1930:
What are ye maislin yer shins at the fire for?