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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1375, 1475-1682

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Mailȝe, n.1 Also: -ȝie, -ȝee, -y(i)e, maillȝe, maillie, maily; malȝ(i)e, -yie, maleȝe; melȝe, mealȝ(i)e. [F. maille: cf. Mail(l n.]

1. One of the metal rings of which mail-armour is composed.In plur. also = next sense.(a) (c 1580) Alex. ii. 8928.
[He] by the mailȝeis him hint in hy
(c 1580) Ib. i. 2562. (c 1580) Ib. ii. 10200. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 961.
The burly blaide … In sonder kerwyt the mailȝeis off fyne steyll
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 631.
Fifty mailyeis and mair Euin of the schuldir he schair
a1500 Ib. 965.
Mony mailye and plait war marrit on the mold
a1500 Ib. 851, 1013. 1513 Doug. v. ii. 91.
A gret eddir … As goldyn mailȝeis hir skalys glytrand brycht
1513 Ib. v. 29.
A habirgyon of byrnyst mailȝeis brycht
1513 Ib. x. vi. 61. 1535 Stewart 21829.
And skaillit mailȝeis in the feild full wyde
15.. Clariodus ii. 42. 15.. Ib. 901.
Ilk gilt mailȝe glemit as ane sterne
c1590 J. Stewart II. 62/180.
The nails and mailȝeis forgit fyn and brycht
1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Hawbert.
Haubert signifies ane kinde of armour maid of mailȝies, or circles like ringes called ane haubergion, conforme to the … proverb, many mailȝies makis ane haubergion
(b) 1533 Bell. Livy II. 207/4.
Mony … war sa hevy chargit with thare harnes & habirionis of maleȝeis that thai sank
1535 Stewart 2366. c1590 J. Stewart II. 18/1 ii.
The plaits and malȝeis from thair harneis flew
(c) 1535 Stewart 7555. 1535 Ib. 13547.
Plaittis wer persit … , The millane melȝeis mendit nocht ane myte

2. collect. Chain-work of interlaced metal rings as a constituent of armour; mail-armour.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 109 (E).
Thre thousand With helyt hors in plate and mailȝe [C. in-till playn male]
1482 Acts Lords Auditors 109/1.
A cote of mailȝe
1496 Treasurer's Accounts I. 260.
To the Kingis sleiffis and pans of mailȝe, iij quarteris of sattin
1500 Acts Lords of Council II. 468.
Ane jak with ane fald of mailye
1501 Treasurer's Accounts II. 22.
For 1 pair of armyng schone of mailȝee
1506 Ib. III. 34, 250, etc. 1522 Wigtown B. Ct. 132 b. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 13, II. 77. 1535–6 Treasurer's Accounts VI. 185, 277. 1537 Ib. 337.
To Thomas Arthur, ane pissane of mailȝe and certane uthir bucklin mailȝe
1540 Maxwell Mem. 409. 1541 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 30.
For twa pyssanis of mailȝe, twa pansis of mailȝe [and] twa pair of cressenis of mailȝe
1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 130. 1567–8 Crail B. Ct. 13 Jan. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace (1570) v. 149. 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 10. a1578 Pitsc. I. 274/5. c1610 Melville Mem. 25. 1667 Highland P. II. 34.
He was shot throw the coat of mailȝie yet never knew himself hurt
(b) 1540 Acts II. 362/2.
That all vtheris of lawer … degre … haif … gluvis of plait or malȝe
1541–2 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 123. 1561 Criminal Trials I. 409.(c) 1541 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 30.
Ane pyssane of melȝe
1561 Digest Justiciary Proc. D. 11.
Coittis of mealȝe
(c 1580) Alex. i. 1229.
His leggis … Arrayit in melȝe of fyne hew

b. Attrib.(a) 1506–7 Treasurer's Accounts III. 367.
For ane pair schone mailȝe and ane pair of gluffis of harnes plait to the King, xxiiij s.
1535–6 Ib. VI. 277.
Gray fusteane … to cover the said mailȝe coit
1538 Ib. VII. 14. 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 308. 1581 Edinburgh Testaments IX. 84.
Ane pair of mailȝe sleuis
1604 Criminal Trials II. 432.
Mailȝie-coittis
1634 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 423.
Mailȝie sleeves
1630 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 416.
The same coat of armour or maillie coat
1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 131.
A maily-coat … is made of very small rings or circles of steel … insert in one another … much used bv our Highlanders, before the invention of gunns
(b) 1569 Edinburgh Testaments I. 260 b.
Ane pair of malȝie slevis fyue li.
1618 Elgin Rec. I. 236.
Malyie coittis
(c) 1585 Protocol Book of G. Fyiff 39.
Ane auld melȝe gluif

3. A small metal ring to be fixed to a garment to take a hook, clasp, lace, or other fastening; a metal eyelet.Perh. also in some instances for the ornamenting of clothing in the manner of spangles or the like.(a) a1500 Henr. Garmont Gud Ladeis 15.
Hir kirtill suld be of clene constance, Lasit with lesum lufe, The mailȝeis of continwance For nevir to remvfe
1502–3 Treasurer's Accounts II. 202. 1502–3 Ib. III. 310.
Mailȝeis
1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii. 25; 1572 Ib. 87.
My lais and mailȝies [were] of trew permanence
1574 Edinburgh Testaments III. 143 b.
Ane gros quhite pointis price vi s.; Item tua pund of mailȝeis price xij s.
1575 Ib. 352 b.
Thrie pund of blak mailȝeis price of the pund iiij s.
1625 Brechin Testaments IV. 183 b.
Auchtein hankis of kleispis, keiparis & maillȝeis
1647 Edinburgh Testaments LXIII. 56.(b) 1502–3 Treasurer's Accounts II. 200.
To the goldsmyth to mak malȝeis to the collar of it [sc. a gown]
1502–3 Ib. 202.
To Johne Auchlek goldsmyth to mak ma and gretar malȝies for the Kingis doublat viij unicornis
1504 Ib. 331, 1507 Ib. IV. 59, etc. 1567 Edinburgh Testaments I. 80 b.
Twa dosane [pounds] of annet seidis … twa pund of malȝeis price therof ten s.
(c) 1494 Acts Lords of Council I. 320/2.
Claspis melȝeis prennis neidellis price xx s.
1589 Edinburgh Testaments XXI. 89.
Ane pund [etc.] … melȝeis price of the pund vij s.

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