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.
Marlit, a. Also: marlet, -ed, marllit, marlt, marld, marrillit. [? MF. merelé (15th c.) chequered, f. merelle, marelle, a counter, a game played with counters or pebbles on a board criss-crossed with lines. Common in the mod. dial. as marled, marl(e)t, merilit, merled, mirled. Cf. also Merlit a.] Chequered, variegated, parti-coloured, having a veined or streaked pattern or markings.1546–7 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XXIII. 151.
Twa marlit couerlettis for beddis 1568 Edinb. Test. I. 215.
Foure marlit silken beltis 1571 Ib. II. 192 b.
Worsat marlit gartanes 1581 Ib. IX. 184 b.
xxxvj boltis of marlit worsat pasmentis 1585 Ib. XV. 26 b.
Marlit drogat 1597 Ib. XXXI. 177.
Ane pair of marlit plaidis 1612 Monipennie Chron. in Misc. Scot. I. 172.
They delight to wear marled clothes specially that have long stripes of sundry coloures 1614 Crim. Trials III. 266.
Steilling … of ane pair of fyne marrillit plaidis 1628 Colquhoun Chart. II. 199.
Our bag pyppis and marlit plaidis serwit ws to guid wise in the persuit of ane man of warr 1635 Haddington Corr. II. 300. 1644 Edinb. Test. LXI. 69.
Marllit 1651 Ib. LXV. 140.
Marlet 1651 Buccleuch Mun. II. 290.
Sex pair of blew marld blankitts 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 300.
One pair of marlt plaids 1680 Moncreiffs 666. 1692 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. II. 92. 1700 Foulis Acc. Bk. 270.
To my sone Wm to pay for printing his theses, marled paper and guilding
