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: 1499-1628, 1695
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Mige, Midge, n. Also: myge, myghe, mydg(e; mege, meige. [ME. migge, mydge, OE. mycg masc., mycge wk. fem.] A midge. Also attrib. and comb. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 532 (Ch.).
Ane cow of birks … To keip than weil his face fra midge and fle a1500 Bk. Chess 172.
The lyon … Sum tyme is fude to megis and to fleis 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 172.
[Arachne weaving her webs] Tharwith to caucht the myghe [1553, mige] and litill fle 1513 Ib. xiii. Prol. 57. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxiii. 24.
Blind leidars, clengeand a myge, bot suelliand a camele 1587 Carmichael Etym. 4.
Culex, a mige a1628 Id. Prov. Nos. 59, 1829.attrib. and comb. 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 62 (M).
Off meige schankis … Thair [the whales'] teddir staikis war maid a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 840.
The mother of mischief is na mair nor a midge wing 1695 Wemyss Corr. 150. 1599 Maxwell Mem. II. 39.
I feare some midge catchers may informe your Maiestie of suche trifles a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 811.
He can see a nip be a midge ers
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"Mige n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mige>
