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.
Mesillis, Missillis, Meazles, n. Also: mesels, -lis; missel(l)s; meassalls, meaxells. [e.m.E. meselles (1578), measels, meazelles (1489), late ME. mesels (1398), beside e.m.E. massels (c 1560), ME. maseles (c 1325), also late ME. sing. meselle, -ylle (15th c.) and masyl, mazil (Prompt. Parv.), of MLG. or MDu. origin.] The disease, measles.(a) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest. 9.
The pokis, mesillis & siclik diseisis of bodie 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 167/510.
The phtisie, meslis [v.r. mesels] [etc.] a1605 Montg. Flyt. 333 (T).
The messillis, the mwillis, the mallange mak thé mantane(b) 1636 Caldwell P. 91.
For the small pockes, missells, surffete, and diverse other deseases 1651 Douglas Corr. 258.
My chylds sicknes (which is prouen missells, and not the small pocks) 1660 Nicoll Diary 314.
Thair wes ane frequent diseas of the small pockes and missillis, quhairof sindry wer takin away by death, even men and wemen of gude aige 1661 Lamont Diary 165.
She died of the missels(c) 1681 Whig's Suppl. ii. 37. Colvil
As folks, by touching, get the meazles 1697 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 14 March.
They had all of thaim thair children lying sicke of the meaxells 1698 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 371.
My son William had the meassalls and recovered again
