Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.² Also: mailyie, malȝe, melȝie; maill. [OF. maille, meaille (12–16th c.), AF. mayl(e (13–15th c.), MDu. maelge, malie.] a. A French copper coin of small value, half of a denier. b. Chiefly in the collocation nocht (nevir) (worth) a mailȝe, not (worth) a halfpenny, not a farthing. = MDu. niet eene maelge.a. 1469 Acts II. 97/1.
That thair be na deneris of Frans, mailȝis, cortis [etc.] … tane in payment in this realmeb. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1556.
Of his hals thair held nocht worth a maill 1535 Stewart 2306.
Ȝone tratour till assailȝie [who] In all his tyme wes neuir ȝit worth ane melȝie a 1568 Sat. P. xlviii. 83.
Gif my claith felȝie, ȝe pay nocht a melȝie 1570 Ib. xiii. 125.
Ȝe left him nocht ane malȝe nor deneir 1589 in Calderwood V. 20.
The Erle of Huntlie made instance to have the thrid part of the summe … But he … sall [not] tuiche heerafter a mailyie but upon good tokins 1592–3 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 55.
Mailȝe