A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Mittan(e, n.1 Also: mitten, -on, myttan(e; metane, -ing; muttane, -one. [ME. mitayn (Chaucer), myteyne, mytten, e.m.E. mitten, -on, -in(g, OF. mitaine (12th c.), med. L. mitan(n)a (12th c.).] A mitten.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2072 (H).
I sall of it [the fox's pelt] mak mittenis to my lufis Ib. 2085. 1495 Treas. Acc. I. 257.
Half ane elne of quhite carsay to be the King a mittane till his sare hand 1496 Ib. 298.
For quhit clath to be … lynyng to his myttanys 1528 Lynd. Dreme 72. 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 141. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 40. a1570-86 Maitl. F. lix. 28.
With dowbill sokkis for my schone And mittanis for my haindis meit 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 241.
Ane mitten without fingeris of quheit taffetie 1615 Edinb. Test. XLVIII. 215.
Foure pair of bairnes mittenis price of all iiij s. 1632 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 235.
Ane rid skarlet ryding cott and hude … and ane pair of mittonis conforine 1661 Acts VII. 253.
Mittons called woven mittons ilk thousand pair … tuo ounces [bullion](b) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 85.
A pare of metingis for hunting(c) 1602 Tailor's Acc. Bk. A. 20.
Ane quarter of freis to lyne ȝour … muttones with 1636 Edinb. Test. LVIII. 18 b.
Ane auld reid ryding caip with ane pair of gray muttanes
b. ? A type of gauntlet.‘Of which the part protecting the fingers consists of a number of transverse lames, instead of having separate extensions for the fingers.’ —c1420 Wynt. viii. 5401.
The carle wyth themetane [W. myttane], thai say, Bare hym rycht welle at that assay
c. ? A sheath-like covering of some material over the end of a shepherd's crook.1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 121.
Quhilk staff hes twa grainis and crewkit doun by the uther end with ane mittane
