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: 1420, 1513-1535
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Mirkn-, Myrkn-, v. [North. and north midl. ME. merkin (Cursor M.), merkn, mourkene, f. Mirk a. After the 14th c. appar. only Sc.] a. tr. To darken, make dark or dim, obscure. lit. and fig. b. intr. To grow dark or dim.a. c1420 Wynt. i. 200.
For eeld had myrknyd all hys sycht c1520-c1535 Nisbet Eph. iv. 18.
Hethin men … that haue vnderstanding mirknyt with mirknessis c1520-c1535 Id. Rev. ix. 2.
And the sonn was mirknitb. 1513 Doug. ix. ii. 4.
And all the feildis myrknyt mair and mair 1513 Ib. xi. xv. 131.
All thyng dymmys and myrknys me abowt 1531 Bell. Boece II. 505.
The day mirknit half an houre togidder as it had bene nicht
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"Mirkn- v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mirkn_>
