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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 … vij^ti 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