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: 1399-1456, 1513-1619
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Merch, n.1 Also: merche, mearch(e, mairch, march(e. [North. ME. mergh(e, midl. and south. margh(e (also merow(e, marow(e, mary(e, merryghe, etc., e.m.E. marrow, marry, marthe, etc.), OE. (Anglian) merᵹ, mærh, (West-saxon mearᵹ, mearh).] The marrow of (human or animal) bones.Also in fig. contexts.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxviii. 460.
Thar theis brokine … Sa smal that men mycht merch se a1400 Ib. xlviii. 161.
Syne hir banys sa to-quassyt That the self merch out passyt a1450 Fifteen Ois 223. a1450 Ib. 313. 1513 Doug. iv. ii. 38.
The subtell quent fyre Waistis and consumys merch, banys and lyre 1513 Ib. viii. vii. 43.
The natural heit into the merch dyd glyde 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 25.
Thome said scho wald never mend becaus the merche of the bane was conswmit 1591-2 Rob Stene 14.
To gett the merch, sum gnew thair banis 1598 Melvill Propine 89.
Sinne That stickes vnto the mearch and beane 1587-99 Hume 34/15.
My march it melts, my febill limbs thay fauld 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 313.
Sin that seazis on thy bodie and gangis into the merche of thy banis 1616 Criminal Trials III. 587.
The Scottismen as loch-leitches … drinkis out the sap of ȝour cuntrie and soukis out ȝour merche
b. fig. The innermost, most central or most essential part (of an argument, matter, etc.); the ‘essence’ or ‘heart’.1456 Hay II. 149/12.
And he that tuichis nerest the quhite and best gais nere the merche 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1545.
The mairch heirof I sall declair The quhilk pertenis to ȝour vnsonsie air 1560 Ib. 8350.
This was the mairch of the mater in deid 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 31.
The trew word of God consistes in the merch and inuart inteligence and not in the vtuart scruf & externel wordis of the scriptures 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1059.
The prelat … Whose words weell wealled and convenientlie couch'd The maters marche
