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: 1375-1606, 1657-1659
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Mirth, Myrth, n. Also: mirthe, myrthe, myrtht. [ME. (north. and midl.) mirth(e, myrth(e, (west. and south.) murthe etc., (Gower) merthe, OE. myr(i)ᵹð, myrþ etc., str. fem.]In the principal senses also common in the plural.
1. Joy, happiness, gladness; enjoyment, pleasure, gratification.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvi. 188.
Bot Criste of maydine is the birth That agayne kynd bare hym with myrth ?1438 Alex. ii. 3166.
The lord sould be … Full of myrth, glaid and ioly c1450-2 Howlat 2.
Throwe myrth a1500 Golagros and Gawane 176.
Than he merkit with myrth our ane grene meid a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 316.
I change thy mirth into melancholy a1500 Ib. 384. a1500 Id. III. 114/6. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii. 440.
Thus leiff I thaim in myrth, blys and plesance c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 19.
For mirth of May … The birdis sang vpon the tender croppis c1500-c1512 Ib. 246. c1500-c1512 Id. Tua Mar. W. 42.
Bewrie … Quhat mirth ȝe fand in maryage c1500-c1512 Id. xii. 26. 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 16.
Musyng marris our myrth 1513 Ib. x. Prol. 171. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 451 (Ch.).
For ioy and mirth I dance c1552 Id. Mon. 1055. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8357.
Onlie ane sone he had … Quhome of thai tuik greit mirth 1560 Ib. 9435. 1659 Blairs P. 178.
I am in the land of cayks wher all miseryes doe sheeme to me mirth and giofulnesplur. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii. 344.
He spak with him, syne fast agayne can pres With glaid bodword thar myrthis till amend a1500 Rauf. C. 954. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 86.
Quhen ȝe fair wele I may na myrthis mys c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 61.
Quhill that thair myrthis met baythe in ane 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 22.
Ȝour sweit myrthis ar mixt with byttyrnes
b. Religious joy, bliss.c1420 Wynt. v. 253.
That byrth That causyd all our mekyll myrth c1420 Ib. iv. 2664. c1420 Ib. v. 2964. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 150.
To thi reward that myrth thou sall nocht mys 1490 Irland Mir. II. 58/15.
In that realme sal be al blithnes and iocundite, all myrth and ioy c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6023.
Than sall those glorifyit creaturis With myrth … Passe to the heuin imperiall a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 575.
To shew the heartsomnesse and real mirth of Christs followersplur. a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 207.
With myrthis ma than man may estyme 1528 Lynd. Dreme 589.
Thir marvellous myrthis … Be arithmatik thay ar innumerabyll
2. Rejoicing, merrymaking, gaiety, jollity.To mak mirth(is, to make merry, rejoice.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi. 48 (E).
Thay soiournyt thar dayis thre And that in myrth and jolyte 1461 Liber Pluscardensis I. 383. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1148. c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 334.
King Alexander … come hayme with greit riches, artailȝery, joy and mirth c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii. 57. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1569.
With mirth, musick and menstrallie 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10292.
Thair was greit mirth … That … hir twa babs … being slane, thair lifes ȝit not thay wantitplur c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 1139.
Thai … lugit thar with myrthis and plesance c1475 Ib. vi. 619. 1513 Doug. viii. xi. 57.(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvi. 57.
& mony men suld mak myrth & ioy the tyme of his byrth ?1438 Alex. ii. 5018.
Quhen … foulis singis … And makes thame mirth c1420 Wynt. viii. 3405.
The Scottis men made myrth and play a1500 Henr. Fab. 1443. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 39/20.
Than the maueis maid myrtht 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2061. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 69.plur. 1375 Barb. xvi. 237 (E).
Thow has mar caus myrthis to ma For thow the dede eschapyt sua 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 167.
Thairfor I think we suld reioyis And now greit myrthis mak from the splene
3. Music, minstrelsy, musical entertainment; melody.For some further examples, see Menstral(l)y n.a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 62.
& of ilkeman but abade Ane lowynge in hir myrth scho mad 15.. Dunb. App. xi. 38.
With mirth of angell soun 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 165.
Na menstrell myrth nor ȝit na merines Into his hall was sene 1560 Ib. 628.
Mony worthie wichts With … Harp, lut [etc.] … Makand thair mirth 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. v.
The ingratious discord in the eare of the least string wil mar al the mirthplur. 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 159.
In euerilk corner, myrthis musicall c1550 Id. Meldrum 143. c1552 Id. Mon. 810.
The fowlis of the air … Makand thame myrthis musicall
4. a. An entertainment, diversion, sport.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 9.
I drew in derne to the dyk to dirkin eftir mirthis 1513 Doug. v. Prol. 46.
Now harkis sportis, myrthis and myrry plays
b. (To make one) an object of amusement, fun or ridicule.a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxxv. 26.
Lat never thy innemeis wit thy mis Nor mak thé mirth on na maneir
