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.
Quotation dates: 1590-1650
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Mach-, Matchles, a. (adv.). Also: machthles. [e.m.E. match(e)lesse (1530).] a. Peerless, incomparable. b. Unmarried. c. adv. Incomparably. —a. c1590 Fowler I. 243/11.
Thy machth[l]es faith c1611–c1617 Mure Misc. P. xx. 1.
Machles Montgomery c1611–c1617 Ib. xiii. 5. 1636 Rep. Maxwell-Stuart Mun. 261.
The creuell and machles treachrie of the laird of Frendraughtb. 1614 Mure Misc. P. vi. 17 (See Mach v. 1).c. c1650 Spalding I. 49.
The gois symmer [of 1634] matchles fair in Morray, but wyndis [etc.]
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"Matchles adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/matchles>
