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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1628
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May, n.2 Also: mai, ma. [ME. and e.m.E. may, mai, (Orm) maȝȝ, prob. OE. poetic mǽᵹ kinswoman, woman, maiden, possibly influenced by ON. møyj-, meyj- (nom. mæ-r, accus. møy, mey, gen. møyjar, meyjar, etc.), maid, girl, virgin.] A maiden, damsel.As appar. also in ME. and mod. Eng., chiefly poetic (also appar. gnomic): cf. also, however, quot. 1565 and Maychilde n.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxviii. 601.
Confort thé wele, my blissit may [: say] a1400 Ib. l. 1189. c1420 Wynt. viii. 45.
For to be weddyt wyth that may, The Kyngis douchtyr off Norway c1420 Ib. vi. 872. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3869. 1461 Liber Pluscardensis I. 388.
God … Gart Hym manheid of the may Mary a1500 Henr. III. 147/42.
That gudely may a1500 Ib. /47. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 97.
Mary, mylde may [: fay, lay, away] a1500 Sir Eger 397. a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1027.
A faire ȝoung may Janot was cald a1500 Ib. 2474.
The knycht … said till hir, My derrast may [: ay] Se ȝe [etc.] 1513 Doug. vi. i. 6.
That feirfull gowsty cave … And secret hald of Sibilla the may [: way] 1513 Ib. iii. v. 89, xi. vii. 162, xiii. viii. 99. a1550 Murning Maiden 3. 1535 Stewart 5620.
Manlie he wes and meik as ony ma [: into pla] a1568 Bannatyne MS 141 a/6.
I met a cleir vndir kell A weilfaird may [: Weddinsday] a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS liv. 1. a1568 Scott ii. 201.
This Will was he begyld the may [: play, away, day] a1568 Id. xxviii. 6.
With that sweit may [: to sport and pley] 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 234.
The said Joanna wes constranit … be just fear and dredor that mycht fall in ane constant mai a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. 9. c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix. 23. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 728.
He that maries a motherles may gets a bountieles bryd a1628 Ib. No. 1457.
