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: 1475-1614
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Mach, Match, v. Also: ma(t)che. P.t. also macchit. [ME. (14th c.) mach(e, macche, (15th c.) match(e, f. Mach,n.1]
1. passive. To be placed in companionship or partnership with another; also, to be married.Also refl., to enter into companionship or partnership. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2917 (Bass.).
To thé wer better beir the stane barrow … Than to be machit [H. matchit] with ane wickit marrow a1500 Ib. 2933. a1500 Ib. 2925.
To mache [H. matche] thé with ane … fenȝeit marrow 1614 Mure Misc. P. vi. 18.
Since … on earth machles we liue alone, … sueit loue, we sould be mach'd in one
2. To be associated or set together with another or others, a. in company, at table, b. in authority, as a colleague or equal.a. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1159.
Quhen thai war machit at mete, the mare and the myn a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 184.b. 1533 Bell. Livy II. 60/25.
To haue the mare indignatioun … that sic seditious men war machit with thame in authorite
3. To be placed in encounter with, to be opposed (by). a1500 Golagros and Gawane 512.
And thai with men vpone mold be machit full evin a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 413.
Be than wes machit on mold Als mony as they wold a1500 Ib. 204. 1513 Doug. x. xiv. 147.
He … was matchit that tyme … With hys fa man in bargane inequale 1513 Ib. xii. vi. 81.
The formast twa he slew machit at hand, And this Polus as he far of dyd stand 15.. Clariodus ii. 1156.
Never more … Was I so machit with no manis force c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace (1570) ix. 940.
b. intr. To meet in combat, to fight (with or agayn the adversary, or togidder); also, to engage in fighting, to come to blows.(1) a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 442.
I haue na myster to matche with maisterfull men a1500 Golagros and Gawane 753.
Quhen thai myghty can mach on mold quhair thai met c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 42.
Quhen xl macht [1570. matchit] agayne thre hundyr men 1513 Doug. viii. xii. 39.
As thai togiddir matchyt on the depe 1513 Ib. ix. ii. 53, xii. 38, xii. iii. 80, v. 30. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 50. a1578 Pitsc. I. 236/13. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 676.
I forbaid thé To mache with me, or elis thow sall deir by it(2) 1513 Doug. v. vii. 94.
With thir [sc. weapons] was I wont mach [Sm. mache] in the melle 1535 Stewart 32215.
[They] macchit hes als airlie as tha mocht
c. tr. To meet in combat, to encounter, to fight against. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 540.
Forthi makis furth ane man to mach hym in feild a1500 Ib. 817. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 220.
My selff trowit till [haiff] machit mony ane 1513 Doug. x. xii. 72. 1513 Ib. xi. x. 38.
d. passive. To be provided with an adversary. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1749.
Quha wald cum thair to tornay or justing … At the set day to be matchit suld not faill
4. tr. To be the ‘match’ of, to rival, equal. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 23.
Scho matchit, or rather far surmountit, all credite of the constancie of ony in former tymes a1605 Montg. Sonn. lxvii. 10.
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"Mach v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mach_v>
