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.
Muk-, Muckman, n. Also: mwk-, mock- and pl. -men. a. ? = Mukdryv'ster n. b. A scavenger, refuse-collector, street-cleaner.See also Muk-bell n. and, on the alleged ‘Lord of the Muckmen’ (cf. Lord n. 25) of Dumfries, McDowall Hist. Dumfries (1867) 360.1569 Edinb. Test. I. 232.
To Andro Achesoun mukman … for twa ȝeiris fe ix li. xvi s. 1654 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 369.
Ordaining the haill stablers and muckmen … to caus remove the haill middings furth of this brugh 1677 Ib. X. 324. 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 19.
To the muckman that dights the close in hansell 1682 Edinb. City Archives Moses Bundle 254, No. 7738.
To William Done and other muckmen for cleangeing Grayes closs 1681 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 2.
John Govan … to pay to Mr George Young as overseer to the muckmen half a crowne weekly Ib. 23.1688 Greyfriars Interments 477.
Mockman 1690 Edinb. B. Rec. XII. 30.
Which is so remote that no muckman or cart will take the trouble to come1697 Greyfriars Interments 477.
Mwkman 1699 Foulis Acc. Bk. 268.
To the muckmen took away the red qr the pavement was laid
