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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.

Maso(u)n, n. Also: masoune, -own, -un, -one, massoun, -on(e, maceoun, -one, masceon; maisoun(e, -on(e, -onne, maissoun(e, -on(e, maiessoune, mays(s)on; measoun(e, -on(e, meassoun(e, -on(e; mesone, -in, messoun(e, -vn(e, -on(e; meissoun, meisone, maessoune, -on(e. [ME. mas-, mazoun, mas-, mazon, mascun (a 1300), e.m.E. mason also meson (1535), med. L. (Eng.) mazonus (1165–6), OF. masson, maçon; also early ME. machun (Layamon), -oun, ONF. machun.]

1. A (stone)mason.For further examples see also Luge n. 3.(a) c 1290 Liber Calchou I. 36.
William Maceone … Willelmo dicto Masceon c 1320 Reg. Great S. (1814) 5/1.
Maceoun c 1338 Liber Dryburgh 263.
Mason 1359 Exch. R. I. 604.
Masun Ib. 622.
Masoun a1400 Leg. S. xl. 190.
Sancte Niniane … Askit at Martyne masonis twa 1387 Edinb. Chart. 36.
The forsayde masounys sal lay in place … xij^c hewyn stanys c1420 Wynt. ii. 1158.
To … mak thai men thare travalourys, Masownys, wrychtys and pynowrys 1456 Hay II. 18/22.
Outhir smythe, wrycht or masoun, that dois thair craft as thai ar techitc1475 Wall. x. 759. 1488 Acta Aud. 126/1.
For … causing of James Ancrome masoun to … cast doun a kiching & a stane wall of a tenement 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 108.
To the massonis of Lythgow at the palis werk a1500 Bk. Chess 1381.
At his belt a trowall … That masonnis vsis for to plane the wall a1500 Seven S. 2340; etc. 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 184. 1496 Ib. 277; etc. 1501 Ib. II. 89.
For lyme … and the masonis silvir Ib. 85; etc. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 298.
The King … send his … servandis in France and Flanderis and brocht richt crafty masonis to big this abbay [sc. Holyrood] 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 113.
The masonis lumis 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 48. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 28.
As … a mason can nocht hew ane evin aislair staine without directioun of his rewill 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 278.
To ane masoun for the dressing of the j^c stanis, ane dayis wage Ib. 279.
Five doublatts … gevin to the four masonis by the pryncipall masone and to ane quarior 1554–5 Ib. 296, 358; etc. 1557 Peebles B. Rec. I. 241. 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 459.
To thre massouns dressing aislar stanes 1602 Colville Paraenese 8.
If evry one … should play the architectour or mason 1624 Huntar Weights & Measures 56.
Example of masons worke 1656 Edinb. Justices Peace 408.
A mason is to have an merk scots without meat or drink, and an half merk scots with meat and drink, for a dayes work, and no more 1675 Inverness Rec. II. 262. 1683–90 Soc. Ant. LIV. 244. 1689 Foulis Acc. Bk. 107.
For eall againe to the masons, quariers and others(b) 1359 Rot. Sc. 843/1.
Patricium Maison 1375 Barb. xvii. 937 (E).
The king … send for maysonys fer and ner 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 102.
To the mayssonis of the palis in drink siluer 1512 Ib. IV. 372. 1515 Ib. V. 24.
To the smytht that wrocht and mendit the maisonis irnis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4160.
Adew my maisters wrichts and maissouns, I haue neid to leir ȝow few lessouns a1578 Pitsc. I. 173/17.
Sum … lordis … said he … maid fellowis maissouns to be lordis and earleis Ib. 176/8.
Maisonne 1587 Carmichael Etym. 3.
Lapicida, a maison or quareor 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 434.
To ane maisoun … to ane barrowman to serve him 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 366. Ib. 372. 1617–18 Ib. MS. XIV. 12. 1618 Ib. MS. XV. ii. 21 b.
Making of a sled, … maissones muldis [etc.] 1633 Ib. XXVII. 20 b.
Johne Thomsone maissoune and quarreor 1644 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 74. 1650 Glasgow Burgesses 133.
[Andrew Rae] maissoune or casiemaker 1662–3 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 483.
Maiessoune 1687 Ib. 406.
Maisson(c) 1561 Reg. Dunferm. 454.
To the carpentar viij b. Item to the meassoune viij b. 1589 Digest Justiciary Proc. M. 6.
Hew Montgomerie meason 1592 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 54. 1613–4 Misc. Spald. C. V. 139.
The … meassones and barrowmen that wer conducit … for weiklie wages 1636 Banff Ann. I. 73.
Meassounes 1640 Fam. Innes 167.
For sharping the measonis yrons c1650 Spalding I. 167.
Ane vther callit Gordoun, and meassoun of his calling 1658 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 539.
Measoune 1668 Old Ross-shire I. 192.
Scaffolds to the measones 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 38. 1694 Red Bk. Menteith I. 429.
To cause ane … cunning meassone erect tuo statues(d) 1574 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. MS. 40.
To the mesone for making of the holys 1576 Beale Fife Schools 119. a1578 Pitsc. I. 354/4. 1585–6 Forres B. Ct. 21 Mar.
Messone 1586 Soc. Ant. II. 349.
To the messons that biggit the cokstuil [in Dundee] 1590 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 64. 1591 Black Bk. Taymouth 311. c1650 Spalding II. 98.
The balleis … causit messounes throw doun to the ground the bischopis dwcat … to be stanes to the bigging of ane song scool 1672 Elgin Rec. I. 315.
Wm. Boynd, mesin 1677 Meikle Old Session Bk. 150.
[Five shillings] given to the messon for helping it [a bridge](e) 1590 Misc. 3 Spald. C. II. 13.
Johnne Fraser, meisone 1591–2 Black Bk. Taymouth 311.
The meissounis virking(f) 1665 Irvine Mun. II. 172.
Alexander Henry maessone Ib. 218.
Maessoune 1667 Ib. 98.
Johne Smyth maesson

b. In coll. plur. as the designation of a local society or incorporation of masons.Chiefly coupled with the wrights, as a combined incorporation, in some places embracing a whole range of craftsmen employed in different aspects of building work. 1475 Cart. S. Giles lxviii.
Assignit … to oure louit nychtburis the hale craftismen of the masonis and of the wrichtis … the yle and chapell of sanct John 1493 Acts II. 234/2.
And als belangand masonis and vther men of craft that conuenis togidder and makis reule of thair craft, sic as masonis and wrichtis and vtheris, that thay sall haue thair feis alsweill on the haly dais as for wark dais or els thay sall nocht … wirk 1532 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II. 98.
The sys delyveris that the maissonis & wrychts sall pass in processioun on Corpus Christi day 1532 Reg. Privy S. II. 173/1.
The dekynnis and craftismen of the masonis, wrichtis, smythis, sadillaris [etc.] 1540 Edinb. Hammermen 157 b.
In all necessar expens maid be ws the massonis & writhis anentis the beggin … of xij ruidis in the park dyk 1588–9 Crail B. Ct. 26 Feb.
Vm. Robertsoun deacone off vrahtis and meassonis 1634 Glasgow Trades House 165.
Robert Cauldwall deacone of the maissouns 1641 Acts V. 562/2.
The wrightes … taking in wnder ther libertie the haill friemen of masones, boweres [etc.] 1642 Stirling B. Rec. I. 184.
The omnigadrum, viz. the wrichtis, maissones, coupares, litstares, glassinwrichtis, sklaitteris [etc.] 1647 Douglas Bequest 25 Sept.
Comprehending the masounis and wrightis commounlie is callet sclaitteris cowperis glaisswrightis quheill wrightis capperis carpenteris sledgeris painteris plaistereris and seivewrightis 1658 Lanark B. Rec. 164.
Gedioune Lockhart, deacoune of the maissouns and wrichtis

c. Any person who has been admitted to the freedom of the masons' craft, an initiate into masonry, a freemason. 1652 Kelso Presb. in Pick & Knight Pocket Hist. Freemasonry 172.
There is neither sinne nor scandale in that word, because in the purest tymes of this Kirke, maisons haveing that word have been ministers 1670 Laws of Aberd. Lodge in Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 424.
Wee ordaine lykwayes that no measson shall begin to discourse on any affairs belonging to our lodge or calling in table talk —1674 Vernon Freemasonry in Roxburghshire etc. 62 (see Lose n.).

2. Maister masoun.a. A mason in charge of, or who supervises the work of, others; a mason who contracts for a particular job, a mason contractor; an overseer or head mason. (Maister n. 13 a.) b. A mason fully qualified in his craft; also, one who has been admitted to the freedom of his craft. (Maister n. 14, 15.)See also Knoop & Jones Sc. Mason 15 f. and M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. xxx f., and cf. maister of wark, Wark n.1491 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 61 (see Maister n. 13 a.). 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 367.
To the maister masone of Lithquho, to ride to Streuelin for to gif his devis to the werk 1517 Ib. V. 121.
To sex maister masounis v dais … ilk man … ij s. iiij d. … To Johne Kirk, maister mason and dekin … xv s. 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 3.
To Johne Aitone master masone and John Wchiltre his servand, xxxii s. 1532 Ib. 89.
To the master masonis wif in part of payment of the task 1534 Mill Mediæv. Plays 126.
Johne Mor maister messvne 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 197.
Resavit to the furnessing of our soverane lordis workis be John Brounhill maister masoun 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 105.
To the Frenche maister masoun … ilk monetht v merkis 1573 Misc. Spald. C. II. 40.
Maister maison to the kyrk and bryg wark of Dee a1578 Pitsc. I. 176/11.
Becaus he was conning in that craft … thai maid him maister maisone 1581 Acc. Repair Doune in Moray Mun. MS. Box No. i, No. 300.
Gevin to Michell Ewing maister measoune … for the making of the grait tour of Down waltirticht and vther warkis 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 2.
To James Gray maister maissoun and four with him for transporting of thair cariagis from thair duellingis to the castell of Edinburgh c 1630 Macgibbon & Ross V. 561.
[Wallace] maister masone and maister of wark 1636 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. 184.
Johnne Ritchie, mr maisson of the parliament 1640 Fam. Innes 168.
To William Aitoun maister maisoun at Heriott his work for drawing the forme of the house in paper 1645 Dundee Chart. 173.
John Mylne, maister measoun 1670 Laws of Aberdeen Lodge in Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 425.
If he be a stranger and hath beein entered in another lodge, and is desyrous to be made a master measson in our lodge, he is to pay two dollars

3. Attrib. Of or pertaining to masons; used or as used by masons.a. Mason craft; masoun fe; masoun irnis, linis, lumis, tub, etc.; masoun luge (= Luge n. 3). Also Maso(u)n-werk.b. Pertaining to masons as an organised society. Masoun box, in which the funds of a lodge were kept. Masoun craft, trade. Masoun merk, appar., a mark money as the fee for admission to membership of a lodge. Masoun word, the secret word imparted to an initiate into freemasonry.a. (1) a1500 Bk. Chess 1377.
The trowall instrument All masoun craft it sall ȝow represent 1536 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 318.
For his daily werk and lawbour of masoun craft 1573 Sc. N. & Q. i Ser. I. 25.
To … instruct the said Androw … in the haill poyntis of the masoune croft(2) 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV. 275.
To pay for … irne werk, maissone feis one the lione house(3) 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 25.
For … fyrn sparris for … the litill hous for the mason lwmys keping — 1546 Treas. Acc. VIII. 460.
For mending of ane masoun tub and gyrthing of ane bukat — 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 16.
For maissone lynes sent to Falkland — 1597 Edinb. Test. XXX. 30 b.
Ane mattok tua masoun irnes 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 71.
For scharping of ix^c v^xx ten messoune irones at 8 s. the c. 1625 Ib. 178. 1630 Glasgow B. Rec. II. i. 1631 Edinb. Test. LV. 38.
The said Patrik left all his warklumes & maissoun irones … to the said John 1632 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III. 483.
For scharping twentie thowsand mason irons fiftie merks 1680 Dumfries Mun. Accs. Box. No. 51.
Measson airnis(4) 1504 Exch. R. XII. 205.
Domus lathamorum vocate masonluge 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 524.
For iij stane of irne in bandis and crukis to the masone luge 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 19.
To Johne Cleucht vi werk dais … biggand ane masone luge 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 350.
For beirring of the aislar stanis … to the maisoun luge 1555–6 Ib. 364.b. (1) 1670Laws of Aberd. Lodge in Murray LyonHist. Lodge Edinb. 424 (see (4) below).
Measson box(2) 1647 Douglas Bequest 25 Sept.
The masoun and wrightis craftis ar maist necessar … to be had within the burgh 1670 Laws of Aberd. Lodge in Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 426.
Any of the measson trade(3) 1670 Laws of Aberd. Lodge in Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 425.
No entering prenteise shall be reciaved … but shall pay … ane merk peice for his meassone merk(4) 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 30.
His adversaries … said he had the masone word among the nobilitie 1649 Lamont Diary 7.
Ther was something (in the Assemb.) spoken anent the meason word, which was recommended to the seuerall presbetries for tryall therof 1670 Laws of Aberd. Lodge in Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 424.
Wee … protest be all the oathes wee received at our entrie to the benefit off the measson word, that wee shall … mentain the measson box of Aberdeine and of this our lodge 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 348.
The mason word … it's like a rabbinical tradition … with an addition of som secret signe delivered from hand to hand, by which they … become familiar one with another 1696 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World Suppl. xxiv.
The said Andrew … being a meason to his employment, 'tis given out, that when he took the meason-word, he devouted his first child to the Devil: but … he never took the same, and knows not what that word is 1696 Knoop & Jones Sc. Mason 81.
The form of giving the mason word