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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.

Main-, Mayn(e)-, Mane-land, n. Also: maine-, meane-; and Madin-land, Magan-land. [Main a. 6; cf. ON. megin-land and e.m.E. mayn lond (a 1490). Chiefly written as two words.]

1. The mainland or principal land mass of a country or territory as opposed to the outlying peninsulas and islands.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 4474.
At [the] Tarbart he wes qwhille … And qwhylle wes in to the mayne land c1475 Wall. x. 1015.
Na man was left all this mayn land [sc. Scotland] within 1533 Boece ix. xiii. 319 b.
The Bas … abone twa mylis fra the mayn land c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4206.
All erthly regionis, Alsweill maine land as ylis in the sey 1559 Rec. Earld. Orkney 112.
For the space of ane yeir, geif vrit or vitnes be out of the cuntre, and geif in the yles for … ane moneth, and geif in the mayneland for … fouretene dayes 1631 Conv. Burghs IV. 528.
Anent the lochs in the mayne land lyand betwixt … Strathnaver and the Mull of Kintyre(b) 1375 Barb. iii. 393.
He thocht he to Kyntyr wald ga … And then he thocht … In-to the manland till arywe 1533 Boece i. iv. 40.
Als sone as this nacioun [Picts] to thai partis [Albion] was brocht, thay … plennyst the maneland towart the sey c1590 Fowler II. 99/5.
Sa sone as they [Venetians] began to combatt vpon the mane land … then began there wounted … gudhap to decay 1598 Reg. Privy C. V. 468; 1610 Ib. IX. 28.(c) 1610 Coll. Rebus Alban. 49.
Foure Dutcheis that wer tane be the capitane … past to the meane-land for I wald nocht hald thame as prisounairis

b. Applied to the largest island of the Orkneys (Pomona) or of the Shetlands (see Madin-land). 1503 Orkney Rentals i. 33.
This ile [Graemsay] is a pendicle of the maneland 1529 Barry Orkney (1808) 443.
Pomonia insula, aliter the mainland 1584–5 Rec. Earld. Orkney 306.
Liand within the … parochin of Stromnes, schirefdome and maneland of Orknay 1596 Dalr. I. 63/4.
Amang thir [islands] is ane named Pomonia, quhilke is of sik a boundes that the inhabitouris calles it the mayneland

2. The principal land mass (of Scotland) as opposed to the outlying parts; in plur. = the Lowlands (Lawland n. 2, Inland n. 2, etc.). (Cf. Main a. 6). 1549 Compl. 23/8.
Oure ald enemeis, … takkand violent possessione of … castellis of the bordours of oure realme, ande alse remanent vitht in the plane mane landis far vitht in oure cuntre

b. In Monro W. Isles appar. taken as: Land resembling the Lowlands in being low-lying and fertile. Cf. Main a. 6 b. ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 62.
Ane ile … gude mane land for corn store [etc.] Ib. 72.
Fladay, ane mayne land, frutfull in corn Ib. 77.
Ane ile … laich mane land Ib. 49, 52, 58, 60, etc.

3. The land mass or part of it as opposed to the sea. 1535 Stewart 3388.
The quhilk befoir wes medow and mane land, Quhair now is nocht bot salt water and sand Ib. 53941.
This ferriar, … did … row … quhill he come to that sand, Syne said to thame that wes the mane land