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.
Mail(l, Malie, Malȝie, n.2 [Uncertain: but perh. ultimately ON. mǽlir (whence also Mele n.2), a measure of solids or liquids, also a land-measure, ‘a field sown with a mælir of grain’ (Vigfusson), also ON. mǽlisland id. Also Maill-land n.] A land measure, recorded only of Tiree, amounting to one forty-eighth of a tirung. —? 1662 Tiree Rental in Sc. Hist. Rev. IX. 344.
A tirung is a 6 merkland and is divydit into 48 malies or 20 pennylands Ib.
Each malȝie 4 loads of peats is £102 [sic for 192] one each tirung at 3 sh. 4 d. per load, £32 1674 Highland P. I. 289.
And the casualties of 4 mail and a half land for mairts and sheep Ib. 290.
With the full casualties of a sixmaill-land and ane maill and a half for mairts and sheep only Ib. 292, etc.
