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.
Mask, Masck, v. [North. e.m.E. (once) maske (Cath. Angl., 1480), otherwise appar. only Sc., corresp. to ME. mahss- (14th c.), maschyn (Prompt. Parv.), e.m.E. mash(e, also ME. meshe, meysse (13th c.), e.m.E. mes(s)h(e, meash(e, OE. *mǽscan f. másc- Mask n.] tr. To mash, in brewing: to mix (malt) with hot water to form wort; also, to mask a fat, to prepare a vatful of mash. b. To brew (ale, etc.). c. absol. d. In passive use: To become infused, to infuse, ‘brew’; fig.(1) 14.. Acts I. 337/2.
That thai [malt-makers] grynd jt our small that jt will nocht ryn quhen jt is maskit —?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 78 (see Mask n.1 1).(2) 1598 St. A. Kirk S. 850.
That na brouster … leid … ony burn, to mask thair fattis … upon the saboth day 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 39.
[She] maskit hir fatt and weische hir standis 1650 Brechin Presb. 32.
That Jonat Couper cam to her hous when shee was masking the fattb. 1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 46.
All ale that is masckit in the luimes till haue fredowme quhill Sonday to declair thar handis tharof —1639 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 565.
I hope that for His sake who brewed and masked this cup in heaven, ye will gladly drinkc. 1622 Perth Kirk S. MS. 25 Mar.
He vseis to mask wpone the saboth nichtis 1681 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II. 270.d. 1638 Henderson Serm. 1.
There is no way for you to prevent the wrath of God that has been masking in a cloud above you this long time
