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.
Morsel(l, Morcel(l, n. Also: morcele, morsal(l. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. morsel(l, morcel(l, (ME. also (1297) mossel(l, (14th c.) mussel(l, OF. morsel a bite, also a blow, buffet.] 1. A morsel, mouthful, small piece (of food); also, a (tasty) item of food.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 368.
To quham I gyf now The morcel of bred of ȝow Ib. xxxii. 782.
Bot wes na best tuth wald set One thaim, a morcel for til ete Ib. vii. 646.
Morcele 1490 Irland Mir. I. 85/2.
Oure fadere Adam ete a bitter morsell Ib. 86/10. 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 25.
[The serpents] with thar cruell byt … tuke mony sary morcell Ib. xii. viii. 75.
The swallow … Gadderand the small morcellis … To bair hir byrdis chepand in thar nest Ib. vi. vi. 78. 1558-66 Knox II. 51.
Ane poore craftis man … haid bocht … ane gray laif and was eitting ane morsell of it(2) 1375 Barb. ix. 398.
Quhat sall we say Of our lordis of France that ay With gud morsellis farsis thair panch 1587 Carmichael Etym. 9.
Gleba, a peit, a lump, a morsel
b. fig. or in fig. context.c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxii. 23.
Scho wes ane morsall of delyte 1558-66 Knox I. 220.
And so the Cardinall of Lorane gatt hir in his keping, a morsall, assuyre yow, meit for his awin mouth Ib. II. 380.
The Lady Erskin, a sweatt morsall for the devillis mouth 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxlvii. 17.
His yce in flakes hee casteth forth Lyk morsells
2. A blow or buffet (on the mouth).a1500 K. Hart 955.
Fule hardines, beir him this brokin brow And bid him bawldlie bind it with ane clout, For he hes gottin morsellis on the mow
