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.
Mers, n.2 Also: merse, meris: see also Mase. [MDu. and MLG. merse (Du. mars) ‘top’, lit. ‘basket’.] A round-top, topcastle. See also Mers-clath(e. —1494 Treas. Acc. I. 253.
And thir rais and the takling with ane mers 1505–6 Treas. Acc. III. 183.
To the man that maid the mers of the schip 1506 Ib. 189.
To Alexander Chamir, payntour, quhilk payntit the mers of the Kingis schip, x Franch crounis, summa vij li. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 52 (Ch. & M.).
A saill … Wyth merse [M. mers, B. mast] of gold, brycht as the stern of day 1535 Stewart 593.
[They] gart men pas on to the meris and spy
