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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.

Mor(e, Moir, n.1 Also: Moyr, Morre, Mour, Moor(e; also Meir. [Late ME. and e.m.E. More (Gower), Mowre (c 1400), Moure (Caxton), also Maur(e (Trevisa), e.m.E. Moor(e (1547), F. More (13th c.), Maure, med. L. Morus, L. Maurus.]

1. A Moor.Chiefly taken as a synonym for Blak-more (q.v. for further examples) ‘blackamoor’, hence = a negro.(1) 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 444.
To Petir the More
1505 Ib. III. 101, 148.
The Moris
1512 Ib. 338.
To the Bischop of Murrais More at brocht ane present to the King
1569–70 Soc. Ant. VI. 53.
For … the Moris buirdis in Jhone Mych Cullowis
1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Aethiops, a More
1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 146.
Nor ȝit the snau can not be callit blak be the moris blacknes
(b) 1591 Treas. Acc. MS. 29.
For the buriale of a Moir in Falkland … vijti vj s. viij d.
1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xxiii.
Thir barbrus pepill war nor Moirs
1608–9 Misc. Spald. C. V. 85.
Hary Domyngo, the Moir
(c) 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 297.
I beseik your grace to be gud prenssis to the Spangyarttis … and als suay the Mour. He is als scharp ane man as rydis
(d) c1590 Fowler II. 188/10.
It appeared to be drawen in onely by the strength of a Moore
1632 Lithgow Trav. 232.
A towne inhabited by Christians, Arabs and Moores; not blake Moores, as the Affricans be, but … a kinde of Egyptians
(2) 1527 Treas. Acc. V. 328.
To Helenor, the blak moir
c1590 Fowler II. 189/4.
A blak more drawing as it seemed to the behalders a tabernacle [etc.]
1594 Warrender P. II. 260.(3) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 304.
proverbs. A Moir will change his cullour if a wicket man change his manneris
1600-1610 Melvill 375.
Wharof we mein nocht to tyne tyme in wassing of sic Moores, nor … to cast our halie things to doogges

b. One disguised as a ‘Moor’.As participating in a ‘Moorish’ dance (Moris n.), pageant, ‘guising’ or the like. 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 283.
The day of the playing of the play at the trone with the convoy of the Moris
1554 Ib. 193. 1566 Mill Mediæv. Plays 340.
Cleithingis … for four lansknychtis, four for Morres, four for hors men [etc.]
Ib. 341. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 67.
Ane convoy of the ȝoung mene of the said burgh [sc. Edinburgh] … thair bodeis and theis coverit with ȝeallow taffateis, thair armes and leggs fra the kne doun bair, cullorit with blak in maner of Moris, upon thair heiddes blak hattis, and on thair faces blak visouris, in thair mowthis rings … about thair neckkis, leggis and armes infynit of chenis of gold
1603 Moysie 84.
Young men all cled in quhyt talfettie, and wisseouris of black cullour on thair faces lyk Mores
1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 332.

2. a. Attrib. as adj. Moorish; negro. 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 430.
To the More taubronar, to his expens maid be the Morienis, viij Franch crounis
Ib. 465.
For hors to the More lasses
Ib. 469.
Quhen the More las wes cristinit
1505 Ib. 477. 1508 Ib. IV. 62.
For xvj elne quhit carsay to be tua kirtillis to the More freris
Ib. 112, 139.
To the blak More freris

b. More-heid, Mores head, a ‘Moor's head’, the representation of the head of a Moor or a negro (as on a ring and as a heraldic device). 1565 Prot. Bk. G. Grote (S.R.S.) 69.
To Wyolete Locht ane rynge of gold witht ane moyr heid
1680 G. Mackenzie Science of Herauldry (1680) p. 90.
Sometimes it [the crest] represents some valiant act … thus M'clelland of Bombie did … bear a naked arm, supporting on the point of a sword a Mores head because Bombie being forfeited, his son kill'd a More who came in with some Sarazens to infest Galloway

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"Mor n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/more_n>

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