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.
Macis, n. Also: -ys, -e(i)s, mas(s)is, mais(s)is, meaces, meas(s)is, -es, mecis, mes(s)is, meisis. [ME. macis, -ys (a 1377), masis, 14th c. F. macis (Godef.). Cf. Mace n.2]
Mace, the spice consisting of the husk of the nutmeg.(a) 1329 Exch. R. I. 141.
Per empcionem … gariofile et macys 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 284.
For half a pund of masis ix s. 1496 Halyb. 15; etc.
2 li. massis, cost 8 s. 1511 Rentale Dunkeld. 255, etc. 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 125.
Mases 1567 Edinb. Test. 20 b.
Maceis Rules of Health (Moray Mun.), 1597 Bk. Rates 7 b.
Macis 16.. Nat. Lib. MS. 22.2.11.
A way to make bacon hamb. Take … two nutmegs, two drope of maces [etc.](b) 1525 Household Bks. Jas V 74.
j libra maissis, price iiij li. 1574 Edinb. Test. III. 66 b, 1586 Ib. XV. 118 b, Ib. XVI. 366, 1590 Black Bk. Taymouth 301.
Maisis 1599 Exch. R. XXIII. 321, 1607 Edinb. Test. XLIII. 154.
Maissis(c) 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI. 355.
Half ane pund of mesis price l s. 1589 Ib. XXI. 89.
Mecis 1592 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 79.
Halff pund of measis, four unces of safrone 1594–5 Misc. Spald. C. V. 59.
Meassis 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI 30 Apr.
Tua vnce messis 1598 Ib. 23 Apr.
Meisis 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 22 Nov.
For pepper ginger and meassis a 1683 Craven Ch. in Orkney 105.
I have also sent you … two unces of stuffin, and ane drop of meaces
