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.
Mang, v. [Of uncertain etymology.Perh. orig. a fig. use = ‘to confuse’ of the verb mang, mong to mix (mod. Eng. dial. mang v. to mix, mess about, also mong, mung, ME. monge: cf. also Eng. and south Sc. dial. mang n. mixture, muddle, confused mass, Eng. dial. mung, ME. mong, OE. ᵹemang mixing, mixture, intercourse, throng, crowd, and cf. also Mang(e n.).]
1. tr. To bewilder, bemuse, perplex; to stupefy, daze; to misguide, lead astray or into error. Also reflex.a1500 K. Hart 299.
This lustie quene … Coud dysyde [sic] ay hir ladeis hir about And as scho list scho leirit thame to mang That wald be in all folk that wer without c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 252 a/3.
I will mvrne ne mair Nor for no mirthles may me mang That will not for me cair 15.. Christis Kirk 184 (B).
Thay wer als meik as ony mvlis That mangit [Laing MS. wereed] wer with mailis a1568 Scott i. 79.
To mend that menȝe hes sa monye mangit
2. intr. To err, go astray; to become bemused, perplexed or lost; to go distracted or frantic.a1500 K. Hart 104.
Syn wes ane brig that hegeit wes and strang, And all that couth attene the castell neir It maid thame for to mer amis and mang a1568 Bann. MS. 15 a/31.
Remeid me that am lyik to mang And soir opprest c1590 J. Stewart 234 § 139.
Lecherie vith venime did me stang, Quhilk almaist meed my feibill bodie mang a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 935 (Wr.).
For madnes like to mang Id. Misc. P. xlvii. 9.
