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: 1375-1438, 1521-1659
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Mellin(g, vbl. n. Also: mel- and -yng(e, -yne. [ME. (c 1350) and e.m.E. mel(l)ing. (Cf. Meddil(l)ing vbl. n.).]
1. A mingling, mixture; (in astrology) a conjunction.1375 Barb. v. 406.
Meill, malt, blude and vyne Ran all togidder in a mellyne a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi. 399.
& of the planetis sic mellynge In the tyme of engendryng Gerris weman do adultery
2. Joining in combat.1375 Barb. vii. 481.
It is hard till vndirtak Sic mellyng [E. melling] vith ȝow for to mak 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 151.
That thow wald send me afoir our melling a band of all the noblemen [etc.]
3. Involving, occupying or concerning oneself; meddling or interfering; in senses 3 and 4 of the verb.(1) ?1438 Alex. i. 2577.
Man that maid melling With lossingery and taill-telling 1567–8 Mining Rec. 14. 1575 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 41.
The haill nychtbouris … refusit to haif ony melling with the saidis petitionis 1613 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 106.
For usurping and melling with his said craft 1624 Linlithgow B. Rec. 4 June. 1635 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 104. 1659 Blairs P. 88.
As far that I uil haue no melling 1659 Ib.
I had no melling therein - 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 226/25.
For melling hir self with maters of religion(2) 1582 Laing MSS. I. 33.
Be ressoun of melling in utheris bluid(3) 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 301.
I sall nifir haif worth an grot of your ger, nor yhit na meling ther with a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xcvi. 22.
Melling with Kirk geir Makis all this weir 1579 Acts III. 182/1. 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI. 170.
[To cease from all] forder waisting or melling with the said coll 1600 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 209.(4) 1543 Inverness Sheriff Ct. 15.
For the melling … & spoiling the landis 1557 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 180.
Intromissioun laubouring [etc.] of saxtene ruddis landis … and melling and disponing the haill proffeitis thairof
4. Dealings, intercourse, association (with another); also, hostile dealing, meddling (with).(1) 1521 Douglas Corr. 81.
At the saidis lordis … salbe cleirly relaxit and quytclamyt, to have na mellinge with the said duk 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 279.
Nane of oure Soverane Ladiis liegis have traffique cumpany or melling with thame 1569 Ib. II. 66. 1576 Edinburgh Testaments IV. 157 b.
In cais … his spous tak ane husband he dischargis hir of ony forther melling with the said James 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 163. 1608 St. A. Baxter Bks. 72.
Gif … the said Dauid … vses ony mellyng sellying or bying withe ony strengar owtland man [etc.](2) 1596 Highland P. I. 154.
Be melling conference assisting concealing mantening of the said umquhill Gillipatrik(3) a1578 Pitsc. II. 136/4.
In melling this witht the servantis of God causles
5. spec. ‘Relations’ with one of the opposite sex; sexual intercourse.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxii. 339.
For gyf sic mellyng suld nocht be For kepynge of verginite 1562 St. A. Kirk S. 145.
Margret was ane virgin at thar fyrst melling together 1603 Philotus cxlv. cxlvi.
How could wee twa disagree That neuer had na melling? Na melling mistris? wil ȝe than Deny the mariage of that man? 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS. 22 May.
For melling befoir thair mariag
