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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.

Main-, Man(e)-sail(l, n. Also: mayn-, mean(e)- and -sale, -seale, -sall. [e.m.E. mayne sayll (1466–7); Main a. 5.] The mainsail of a two- or three-masted ship. Also attrib.1513 Doug. v. xiv. 4.
Heys heich the cros, he bad, … And fessyn bonnettis beneith the mayn sail down
1535 Stewart 683.
Tha salit fast that tyme befoir the wynd With fuksaill, topsaill, manesall, musall, and blynd
Ib. 288.
Mansaill
1540 Acta Conc. MS. XIV. 152.
Tua bonatis of ane mane sale with the for bonat
1549 Compl. 40/30 (see Main a. 5). 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. June 30.
Ane meane saill
1589-1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 38 b.
For canwas to be bandis to our mane sall
1600-1610 Melvill 258.
The tye of the Einglisman's mean seale
1614 Soc. Ant. X. 224.
Main saill
attrib. 1549 Compl. 40/32.
Hail eftir the mane sail scheit, hail out the mane sail boulene

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dost