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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.

Mailȝe, n.¹ Also: -ȝie, -ȝee, -y(i)e, maillȝe, maillie, maily; malȝ(i)e, -yie, maleȝe; melȝe, mealȝ(i)e. [F. maille: cf. Mail(l n.]

1. One of the metal rings of which mail-armour is composed.In plur. also = next sense.(a) (c 1580) Alex. ii. 8928.
[He] by the mailȝeis him hint in hy Ib. i. 2562. Ib. ii. 10200. c1475 Wall. v. 961.
The burly blaide … In sonder kerwyt the mailȝeis off fyne steyll a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 631.
Fifty mailyeis and mair Euin of the schuldir he schair Ib. 965.
Mony mailye and plait war marrit on the mold Ib. 851, 1013. 1513 Doug. v. ii. 91.
A gret eddir … As goldyn mailȝeis hir skalys glytrand brycht Ib. v. 29.
A habirgyon of byrnyst mailȝeis brycht Ib. x. vi. 61. 1535 Stewart 21829.
And skaillit mailȝeis in the feild full wyde 15.. Clar. ii. 42. Ib. 901.
Ilk gilt mailȝe glemit as ane sterne c1590 J. Stewart II. 62/180.
The nails and mailȝeis forgit fyn and brycht 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Hawbert.
Haubert signifies ane kinde of armour maid of mailȝies, or circles like ringes called ane haubergion, conforme to the … proverb, many mailȝies makis ane haubergion(b) 1533 Bell. Livy II. 207/4.
Mony … war sa hevy chargit with thare harnes & habirionis of maleȝeis that thai sank 1535 Stewart 2366. c1590 J. Stewart II. 18/1 ii.
The plaits and malȝeis from thair harneis flew(c) 1535 Stewart 7555. Ib. 13547.
Plaittis wer persit … , The millane melȝeis mendit nocht ane myte

2. collect. Chain-work of interlaced metal rings as a constituent of armour; mail-armour.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 109 (E).
Thre thousand With helyt hors in plate and mailȝe [C. in-till playn male] 1482 Acta Aud. 109/1.
A cote of mailȝe 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 260.
To the Kingis sleiffis and pans of mailȝe, iij quarteris of sattin 1500 Acta Conc. II. 468.
Ane jak with ane fald of mailye 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 22.
For 1 pair of armyng schone of mailȝee 1506 Ib. III. 34, 250, etc. 1522 Wigtown B. Ct. 132 b. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 13, II. 77. 1535–6 Treas. Acc. VI. 185, 277. 1537 Ib. 337.
To Thomas Arthur, ane pissane of mailȝe and certane uthir bucklin mailȝe 1540 Maxwell Mem. 409. 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 30.
For twa pyssanis of mailȝe, twa pansis of mailȝe [and] twa pair of cressenis of mailȝe 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 130. 1567–8 Crail B. Ct. 13 Jan. c1475 Wall. (1570) v. 149. 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 10. a1578 Pitsc. I. 274/5. c1610 Melville Mem. 25. 1667 Highland P. II. 34.
He was shot throw the coat of mailȝie yet never knew himself hurt(b) 1540 Acts II. 362/2.
That all vtheris of lawer … degre … haif … gluvis of plait or malȝe 1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII. 123. 1561 Crim. Trials I. 409.(c) 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII. 30.
Ane pyssane of melȝe 1561 Digest Justiciary Proc. D. 11.
Coittis of mealȝe (c 1580) Alex. i. 1229.
His leggis … Arrayit in melȝe of fyne hew

b. Attrib.(a) 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III. 367.
For ane pair schone mailȝe and ane pair of gluffis of harnes plait to the King, xxiiij s. 1535–6 Ib. VI. 277.
Gray fusteane … to cover the said mailȝe coit 1538 Ib. VII. 14. 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 308. 1581 Edinb. Test. IX. 84.
Ane pair of mailȝe sleuis 1604 Crim. Trials II. 432.
Mailȝie-coittis 1634 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 423.
Mailȝie sleeves 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 416.
The same coat of armour or maillie coat 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 131.
A maily-coat … is made of very small rings or circles of steel … insert in one another … much used bv our Highlanders, before the invention of gunns(b) 1569 Edinb. Test. I. 260 b.
Ane pair of malȝie slevis fyue li. 1618 Elgin Rec. I. 236.
Malyie coittis(c) 1585 Prot. Bk. G. Fyiff 39.
Ane auld melȝe gluif

3. A small metal ring to be fixed to a garment to take a hook, clasp, lace, or other fastening; a metal eyelet.Perh. also in some instances for the ornamenting of clothing in the manner of spangles or the like.(a) a1500 Henr. Garmont Gud Ladeis 15.
Hir kirtill suld be of clene constance, Lasit with lesum lufe, The mailȝeis of continwance For nevir to remvfe 1502–3 Treas. Acc. II. 202. Ib. III. 310.
Mailȝeis 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 25; Ib. 87.
My lais and mailȝies [were] of trew permanence 1574 Edinb. Test. III. 143 b.
Ane gros quhite pointis price vi s.; Item tua pund of mailȝeis price xij s. 1575 Ib. 352 b.
Thrie pund of blak mailȝeis price of the pund iiij s. 1625 Brechin Test. IV. 183 b.
Auchtein hankis of kleispis, keiparis & maillȝeis 1647 Edinb. Test. LXIII. 56.(b) 1502–3 Treas. Acc. II. 200.
To the goldsmyth to mak malȝeis to the collar of it [sc. a gown] Ib. 202.
To Johne Auchlek goldsmyth to mak ma and gretar malȝies for the Kingis doublat viij unicornis 1504 Ib. 331, 1507 Ib. IV. 59, etc. 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 80 b.
Twa dosane [pounds] of annet seidis … twa pund of malȝeis price therof ten s.(c) 1494 Acta Conc. I. 320/2.
Claspis melȝeis prennis neidellis price xx s. 1589 Edinb. Test. XXI. 89.
Ane pund [etc.] … melȝeis price of the pund vij s.