A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Over-mekill, a. Also: ovir-, ower-, owyr- and -mekle, -mekil, -meikill, -meikle, -mikle, -meckill. [Cf. Our-mekill.] a. adj. Too big; too large, too great, excessive. b. n. Too much. c. adv. Too much, overmuch, to excess.a. a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. clxv. 21.
He is ower mekle to be ȝour messan 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 78.
This overmekle precisenes a1578 Pitsc. II. 275/6.
Ovir meikill familiarite c1590 Fowler II. 48/7.
In geuing ouermekill credit to the reporte of vthers 1599 Glasgow Weavers 50.
To deale amang the rest the said overmekill work 1610 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 74.
[His] evill toung and over meikle drinkb. 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. D i.
Aneuch and ouer mekle c1590 Fowler II. 25/14.
But wald God this had bene all quhilk was ouer mekillc. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1565.
His helm was teit ouir mekill to the syde 1551 Hamilton Cat. 48.
All thai quhilkis traistis owyr mekle in [etc.] Ib. 66.
We ar all ouirmekil gevin to ydelnes [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 49/32.
Ouermekle ?1438 Alex. . 306.
Douchty men … That dredis ouermekill 1587 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 529.
Ouir meckill 1596 Dalr. II. 474/21.
Ouermekle 1613 Fife Synod 63.
He resorted over mikle to the burgh of Peirth
