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: 1549-1610, 1669-1695
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Mec(h)anic(k, a. and n. Also: mec(h)anik(e, mec(h)anyc, mecanyk(e, -ict, mich-, mach-, makanick. [F. mécanique (14th c.), L. mēchanicus, ME. (appar. once only, Gower) mechanique n., e.m.E. (1599) mechanick a. and n.]
1. adj. Pertaining to manual labour; (the art, craft, etc.) of a workman or artisan.1549 Complaynte of Scotland 8/25.
To leyrne sciens, craftis and mecanyke occupations 1549 Ib. 9/19.
In sa far as thai persaue me nocht ocupeit vitht mecanyc byssynes 1549 Ib. 69/15. 1549 Ib. 123/35.
Mecanik 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 85/23.
In ony art liberal or mechanik 1581 Burne Disput. 63.
Ane soutar, tailȝeour or merchand hauand ane mechanik vocatione 1581 Ib. 188.
Professoris of mechanick artis of the baisaist qualitie
b. Of a manual or practical nature.1549 Complaynte of Scotland 46/3.
In the inuentione of natural mecanyc consaitis
2. Of a person: That performs manual labour or belongs to the class of artisans.1549 Complaynte of Scotland 25/14.
Mecanyc lauberaris sal reproche gentil men 1549 Ib. 129/25. 1549 Ib. 142/9. 1549 Ib. 150/15.
Ane pure mecanyk craftis man 1549 Ib. 151/22.
Mechanyc plebiens
b. Characteristic of manual workers (in a pejorative sense).1587-99 Hume 84/162.
Meddle not thy selfe with trifle matters, and be not earnest in them, for that is mechanick
3. n. A manual workman, a craftsman, an artisan.a1568 Scott i. 174.
Merchandis to trafique … , Mechanikis wirk, husbandis to saw and scheir 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 19.
Souters, tailȝeurs, skinners, … and vthir mechanicks 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 18 b.
The mechanike or artisant 1610 Misc. New Spald. C. I. 108. 1669 Orkney Antiq. Soc. VII. 49.
And uther artheistes, machanicks, traids and crafts 1695 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs IV. 204.
To accept of all merchants or michanicks
4. A craft, a manual skill or expertise.1670 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS. 3 Oct.
Androw Bennet, as elected deacon for the wrights [etc.] … being a surgen … and not expairt in these makanickes 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 181.
All sort of chirurgerie instruments and uther instruments for mechanicks
