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.
Quotation dates: 1497-1529, 1609, 1675-1677
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Marking-, Merkyn-irne, -iron(e, n. [ME. and e.m.E. markyng-yron (c 1420), -irne.] A branding iron. — 1497 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 72.
That … [infected persons refusing to be isolated] salbe brynt on the cheik with the marking irne that thai may be kennit in tyme to cum 1529 Ib. II. 12.
That na … personis … sell … meill bot with ane sufficient lele mesour … and at the samyn be brynt with the commoun merkyn irne of the tovne 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I. 240.
Ane marking irne to mark the stuffe that wes transportit 1675 Dundee B. Laws 160.
The touns marking irone 1677 Stirling Common Good 112 b.
For ane marking iron 2,0,0.
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"Merkyn-irne n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/merkyn_irne>
