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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.

Massy, Mass(i)e, a. [ME. (Wyclif, Trevisa) and e.m.E. massy(e, massie, massee, f. Mas n.: cf. also OF. (12th c.) masseïs, massis, massi.]

1. Forming a solid mass, consisting of compact matter, solid, substantial.a. Said of gold, silver, brass: = Not hollow, plated or alloyed; consisting of solid metal throughout.a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 748.
A gret pot with erys twa Of massy gold
c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 788.
Ane crowun quhilk passis mekill thing Off massie gold
a1500 Henr. Fab. 873 (Bann.).
A croun of massy gold
1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 298.
The lymnaris wer of birneist gold … Of goldin cord wer lyamis, and the stringis Festinnit coniunct in massie goldin ringis
Ib. iii. 605.
The durris and the windois all war breddit With massie gold
Id. Æn. ix. vi. 119.
Cowpys and goblettis … Of massy syluyr [L. solido argento]
Ib. x. viii. 148.
In weighty platis of the gold massy
Ib. ii. xii. 10. 1535 Stewart 44441.
Ane sword … With hilt and plumbet all of massie gold
15.. Clar. iii. 1167.
The ches royall, Whairof the men war all of massie gold
1591 Misc. Spald. C. III. 160.
Ane great stein latroun of massie bras
a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 178.
The keyis of the toun … that war all maid of fyne massie sylver

b. Said of dry land as opposed to water, and of masonry.(1) 1554 Knox III. 287.
The raging seas shal obey and beare His feete and body as the massie, stable, and drie land
(2) 1548 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 143.
To steik vp in massie wall the durris and windois of thair said brynt land
1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 70.
Massie wall
1567 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 230.
That he leif na dure … in the said new dik bot that the samyn be maid masse wall
a1578 Pitsc. I. 333/11.
The king … caussit maissouns … rainforce the … wallis … and maid all massie wark … that it sould be wnwinabill
1587 Mylne Master Masons 58.
To big ane massie wall
1623 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 142.
To … big the said gavill of massie wark
Ib. 141.

2. Full of weighty substance, ponderous, massive.c1420 Wynt. iv. 1891.
Symulacrys … Massy, grete, welle polyst syne Made off gold and sylvyr fyne
1513 Doug. ix. xi. 101.
The hie pillar of marbill stone … Quhilk was of ald of massy stanys a byng
1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 8.
Downe … fell Dame Reres, a woman verray heuie, baith be unweildie age and massie substance
c 1578 Maxwell Mem. I. 311.
Ane massie pece of siluer
1570 Leslie 71.
Riche juellis and massy cheanis
c1590 J. Stewart II. 218 § 74.
Except repentance in ȝow hold aback The griwous falling of His massie rod
1635 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 46.
Ane massie staine weight of brasse
1638 Baillie I. 154.
His useing of massie crucifixes in his chamber
1665 Lauder Jrnl. 20.
A massy crosse
1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 36.
A massy heart of gold
1688 Soc. Ant. II. 457.
A massy eucharist silver cup

3. fig. Of words: Meaningful, weighty.a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 264.
His plainest words are most significant, massie and apposite
Id. Clavis Cantici 418.
The neerer she come to a close, her expressions become the more massy
Ib. 110.

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