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.

Maister-, Master-sti(c)k, Maisteris-stick, n. Also: -stikke, -steik. [e.m.Du. or Flem. meesterstuck (Plantijn and Kilian) masterpiece, G. meisterstück.] The piece of work produced by a craftsman to prove himself qualified for acceptance as a ‘master’ (Maister n. ¹ 14).Appar. chiefly in Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee, Dunfermline. 1532–3 Aberd. Trades 199.
That na freman sal be maid of the said craft until he … [has] made his masterstick of wark and … be proven worthy be his wark to be ane maister 1551–83 Aberd. Baillie Ct. 11 b.
The maister stik of the persoun that beis admittit [to a craft] being exhibit 1560 Perth Hammermen 91.
[To] produce ane sufficient sey of ane maister stik of wark to be ane sufficient craftisman to serve the Queenis Grace legis 1587 Dundee B. Laws 474. 1591 Ib. 374.
This work being his maisteris stick salbe his own hand only 1622-6 Bisset II. 237/24.
Calfaderis and schip wrichtis, unles thaj be maid maisteris in presence of maisteris be practasing ane maisteris steik, sall nocht deall witht schipis mending 1634 Aberd. Trades 281. 1688 Dunferm. Hammermen 23.
[The tinsmith to produce as his] masterstick, a stoven pan, a lantern [etc.]

b. transf. and fig. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxii. 113.
As metest merchand for ane maister steik Baith fals of kynd and in the craft expert 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 151/357.
A maister stikke that promeisis the trophee Lernien suire