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.
Mure-, Muir-hen, n. Also: mwir-, moore-. [North. ME. morehenne (1347), e.m.E. morehen, moorehenne, and mod. Sc. dial. moor-, muir-hen: cf. also ME. mor-hen (c 1300), e.m.E. and mod. Eng. moor(e)hen, the water-hen.] The (female of the) red grouse. —1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 16 a.
For a mwir hen x d. 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 185.
The best pudȝeon ij d. obl., the best mure hen vj d. 1560 Ib. III. 84.
The cuppill muir hennis, xx d. 1659 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 236. 1661 Ib. 349.
[They have] in forbidden tymes sett girnes upon severall moore hens and uther wyld foules nestes
