A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Matalent, Mautalent, n. (a.) Also: mate-, mati-, matulent, -at; mawtelent, mawvetalent. [ME. mautalent (c 1320), OF. mau-, matalent, varr. of maltalent Maltalent n.] Ill-will, grudge; anger, rage; spite, malice.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 377.
He for-gef his matalent (c 1580) Alex. i. 545.
To greif His fais … And suage on thame his matelent Ib. ii. 612.
The chylde smyled … And tholed his emis matelent Ib. 1820.
Quhen Cassamus hard his intent His blude changed for matelent Ib. i. 3197, ii. 1352, 4093, etc. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2151. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 257. c1475 Wall. iv. 465; etc.
Wallace … Vpon the hed him straik in matelent ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 15 (M).
Sa fer he grew in matelent [1700, he grew full matalent] a1500 Lanc. 2167, 2658. 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 121. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv. 684; etc.
In my contrair scho grew in matilent Id. Seven S. 6708, etc. 1684 G. Sinclair Truth's Victory over Error (1684) To Reader.
[The Quakers], though they look like lambs, yet gall them but a little and you will find them express the matulent and teen of their heart(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6012.
Swne efftyr fell a mawvetalent [v. rr. mawtelent] Betwix the Dowglas and Ramsay ?1438 Alex. ii. 112.
The king him sawe, and knew him weill, His mautalent euerilk deill
b. As adj. Enraged, furious.a1578 Pitsc. II. 43/27.
King Harrie brunt as fyre and grew so matulat in anger that [etc.] — ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert (1700) 15 (see (a) above).
Matalent
