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.
Mammon, (Mammonie). (Ultimately Aramaic māmōn, māmōna riches, gain, occurring in the Gk. text of Matt. vi. 24 and Luke xvi. 9–13, and retained in the Vulgate as ma(m)mōna; also more or less personified or as the name of the devil of covetousness as ME. (Piers Plowman) and e.m.E. (1502) Mammona, e.m.E. mammon(de.) —a1500 Henr. Fab. 2444 (H).
The woddis waist … Ar wickit riches … , For mammon may be callit the deuillis net 1551 Hamilton Cat. 104.
Mak your self freindis of your wyckit mammonie [L. (Luke xvi. 9) Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis], that is to say, mak the puir men … your spirituall freindis be giving of part of your rychis to thame [etc.]
