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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1614
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Mach, Match, n.1 Also: mache, matche; maich. [ME. mac(c)he, mec(c)he, OE. ᵹemæcca, ᵹemęcca, related to OE. ᵹemaca Mak n.1]
1. A person who is the equal of another in some quality, as ability, strength, etc.; an equal, a match. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2555 (Ch.).
For all ȝour mowis ȝe met anis with ȝour mache [H. matche] 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I. 279.
[If he (Lennox) had been an equal] mache [to the Duke, why did he give his enemy] sik [place] 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 37.
A meitt matche, a Scottis cuckold and ane English mesmonger 1571 Satirical Poems xxvii. 66.
Lerne experience Ane forene mache or maister to admitt a1605 Montg. Misc. P. l. 38.
This paragon … but matche 1614 Mure Misc. P. vi. 16.
Euin so, the heauins doth kno, In spotles loue no maches I admitt
b. An opponent, adversary, competitor. 1513 Doug. v. vii. 27.
Ane othir mache to him was socht and speryt Bot thar was nane … at … durst presume meyt that man
2. A consort, a spouse. 1558 Knox IV. 405.
What maketh this for Mary and her match Philippe? c1590 Fowler I. 255/11.
A faithffull mach wnto hir husband kynd 1612 Elphinstone Fam. Bk. 266.
If any of tham … mak chois of a mache to tham selfs other nor my freinds aboue nominat
3. ? A suitable pairing or matching. 1563 G. Hay Confutation Abbot Crosraguel 10.
That … the ordinances of God … be exempted from all matche & patching of the foolish imagination of mans heart
4. A sporting match or contest. 1570 Leslie 238.
Thair was gret bonespellis, matches and wedfeis … with the croce bow [etc.]
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"Mach n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mach_n_1>
