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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.

Maryday, n. Also: Mari(e)-, Mareday, -dey. [Mary 1 b: cf. ME. (st.) Marie dai (in leynte) (c 1310), (seynt) Mary day (c 1450). Variously written as one or as two words.] One of the festival days of the Virgin. = Lady day, Marymes.Chiefly the Assumption, 15th August, and the Nativity, 8th September, but in some instances the Annunciation, 25th March, is perh. intended, the three festivals being distinguished by the prefixes first (= the Annunciation or, chiefly, the Assumption) and latter (= chiefly or only, the Nativity, quot. 1541 being appar. erron.), and, for the Assumption and Nativity, by the addition in harvest.(1) 1455 Montrose Baillie Ct. 1 b.
Fyrst Maryday 1555 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 8.
At the first Marie day following 1558 Inverness Rec. I. 22.
The tane half … the first Mare day and the todyr half … at the Rudmes 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 306. 1568 Crail B. Ct. i Sept.
Vther tene poundis to be payt at Candelmes and fyrst Maryday nixt to cum be equhall portionis 1590 Ib. 25 June.
The fyftene dey off August … callit first Marie dey in harwest(2) 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. XVI (Jam.).
The letter Maryday … callit the nativite of our Lady 1541 Ib. XV. 617 (Jam.).
At the assumptioune of our Lady callit the letter Mareday 1557 Inverness Rec. I. ii.
Betuix midsummyr and lettyr Mare day 1568 Ib. 165.
Lettyr Mareday 1571 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 144.
At lettyr Mare day ȝeirle 1586 Montrose Baillie Ct. 19 Nov. 1590 Crail B. Ct. 28 Apr.
The aucht dey of September nixt to cum callit latter Marie dey in harwest 1595 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 113.
Deferring the payment of thair maill and deutie to the lettermariday 1611 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 175.
Latter Marie day(3) 1607 Dundee B. Laws 413.
At our heid fairis callit the first Marie and letter Marie day 1700 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI. 104.
From Marieday 1699 to Marieday 1700 yeirs