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.
Mast, n.1 Also: maste, maist, mayst. [ME. and e.m.E. mast(e, OE. mæst.]
1. A mast of a ship; appar. also, a pole similarly set up on land.See also Jurie mast, Main-mast, and missen-, schip-, topmast.(a) 1375 Barb. xv. 280 (E).
He gert men rapys and mastis ta And set thaim in the schippis hey a1400 Leg. S. iv. 250. ?14.. Ship Laws in c1500 Harl. MS. 4700 150.
Off a schip that hewis hir mast 1468 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 236.
Of ilk girnaill corne guidis, ii bollis, ane behind the mast and ane befoir 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 253. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 27 (Asl.).
He hecht … That he suld dyng the sowtar dovn Thocht he war wicht as mast 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 297.
The schippis formast 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 376.
Convict of … sclandering … sayand that he was bund to ane mast for cuttin of towis 1583 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 314.
Mastis of schippis to be standartis and ledderis 1635 Dumbarton B. Rec. 47.
The ankorage of small bottis without mastis c 1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 540.
Good and serviceable timmer for masts and raes 1666 Glasgow Chart. II. 93.
Shippes aryveing ther, loaden with timber, payes a dale befoir the mast and a dale beeft the mast for measuradge 1674 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 31 Oct.
For setting the masts(b) 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 171.
To the marinales at the rasing of the gret maist of the schip, in drinksilvir 1513 Doug. iv. vii. 76 (R).
Thay … Weltis doun in woddis grete maistis [for the ships] 1533 Boece viii. xiii. 279 b.
Certane marcheandis … be violence of weddir had thare salis, maist … and vthir gere … brokin 1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 288.
To the pynouris for … viii maistis bering to the flottis 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 197.
The consell ordanit to lok and chenȝe the hawin mowcht wytht maystis and takkillis of irne 1622-6 Bisset II. 200/8.
2. gen. A pole suitable for a mast, a large pole as used for various purposes.1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 121.
For tua rede burdounis maid of tua mastis 1513 Ib. 463. 1536–7 Ayr B. Acc. 20.
For bering of the maistis out of the kirk on Yole eyn, ix d. 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 220.
For vi firrin mastis for ledderis and skaffelting 1535–6 Ib. 177; etc. 1539–41 Ib. 290.
For twa mastis to be ane hek and menger to the gelding stable 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 123.
For ane jc doubill garron naill to the mast and scaffetting to the windois, xl s.