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.
Mous, n. Also: mouse, mows(e, muse. Plur. mise, mys(e, mysse, myis, myce. [ME. mous, mows, early mus, pl. mys(e, myce, OE. mú s pl. mýs.] A mouse.sing. a1500 Henr. Fab. 918 (Bann.).
The musk the litill mows Ib. 942. (Id.) Asl. MS. II. 141 heading. 1494 Loutfut MS. 18 a.
The dromadair [etc.] … I can thame law as litill as ane mows c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxii. 55.
The lamb than cheipit lyk a mows 1535 Stewart 40547.
Also fow and drokin as ane mous Ib. 54258.
Tha … fled fra hous till hous As fra ane cat dois ane chaissit mous 1567 Sat. P. iii. 178.
War … I ane cat and sho ane lyttill mous a1605 Montg. Flyt. 13 i (H).
Polwart, ȝe peip like a mouse amongest thornesproverbs a1568 Bann. MS. 135 a/37.
It makis a perte mows Ane vnhardy catt a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 762.
Shee is a sairie mouse that has but ane hole Ib. No. 92.plur. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1444.
Wyth myis [C. myse] he wes swa wmbesete That [etc.] Ib. 1450.
Thai myis [C. mysse] a1500 Henr. Fab. 1409 (Bann.).
A trip of mys Ib. 163 (Asl.). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxix. 21.
Husbandis … Hes now no beist bot cattis and myce 1511 Edinb. Hammermen 73.
For to clos the lang kist … quhar the mys come in at the bodome 1531 Bell. Boece II. 450.
Mise and ratonis abundit with sic plente that [etc.] 15.. Christis Kirk 138 (M).
He mudlit thame doun lyk ony myse 1562 Knox VI. 172.
Yea … that god is a pray (if he be not wel kept) to rattes and mise a1568 Bann. MS. 145 a/3.
Cattis ar cawtelus in taking of myis a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xviii. 57.
Myce 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 7.
The mys schur ane holl in the boddum of hir purs
b. Attrib. (in plur.) in myse-dirt, the droppings of mice. c. Comb. with the designation of a colour (= resembling the colour of a mouse).Also Mous-cullour, -collorit, -ere, -fall, etc.b. a1500 Henr. III. 152/73.
Annoyntit with nurice doung … Myngit with mysdirt and with mustart a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 539.
I wald I had as meikle pepper as he compts himself worthy myse dirtc. 1666 Irvine Mun. II. 204.
Ane mous broune colloured horse 1570 Edinb. Test. II. 79.
Foure elnis … of mousgray stamyn
