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.
Margarit(e, Margrite, n. Also: margare(i)t, margret, mergreit. [ME. (1310) and e.m.E. margarit(e, -et, OF. margarite, (OE. męregrot).] A pearl.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 3.
In the lapidar … ane is … that callyt is margaret, Vertuyse, clere, lytil and quhyt 1494 Loutfut MS. 32 a.
Thir fische that beris the margaritis 1535 Stewart 37596. a1568 Scott xiv. . 1596 Dalr. I. 24/6, 14.(b) 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 246.
Ane mergreit set with stanes 1535 Stewart 31188.
Ane cors of gold … Adornit … With diamontis ding and margretis mony one
b. Used as the type of something precious.Also, punningly, of a woman named Margaret.1549 Compl. i.
Marie Queen of Scotlande, the margareit and perle of princessis a1550 Tayis Bank 81.
This myld meik mansuet margrite, This perle polist most quhyt —c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvii. 33. a1585 Montg. Maitl. Q. lxiv. 8. a1649 Drummond II. 184/2.
