Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mast(e, Maist(e, a., n.⁴ and adv. Also: maest, may(e)st; mes(s)t, meist, meast. [North. ME. mast(e, midl. and south. most(e, moost(e, OE. (Northumb.) mást. Cf. Most(e.]

A. adj. 1. Largest or biggest in physical size. 1401–7 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) 221.
A brysyn pot maste of the thre, ii s. c1420 Wynt. viii. 4748.
The mast gest off that towre brak c1515 Asl. MS. I. 155/1.
Asya is mast in quantite a1500 Bk. Chess 1211.
Thair faderis so thé traist thai wald That thair maist jowellis gaif thai thé to hald 1540 Maxwell Mem. I. 283.
The maist chymnay of irne 1559 Cart. S. Giles cvii.
The tua maist chandlaris of syluer 1563 Echt-Forbes Chart. 98.
Ascendand the said burne and maist wattergang thairof 1577 Edinb. Test. V. 363.
Ane brewing leid meast beif pot a pan 1581 Ib. IX. 297 b.
Sex bollis of aittis and the maist kist in my hous 1591 Ib. XXIII. 209. 1593 Ib. XXV. 105 b.
To … hir sone the maist and best pan 1598 Ib. XXXI. 393. 1633 Ib. LVI. 73.
My maist & best pottellipt. 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 80.
Fund in the maist of the said cofferis … [570] rois nobilis 1533 Boece ii. viii. 71 b.
The ile of Pamonia now Kirkwall of all vtheris within Orknay the maist

b. Maste and (ne) leste, biggest and (nor) smallest, all (none) of them: cf. 5 d below. — a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 358.
That na beste … Mycht tuth lay on hyme, mast ne leste 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 14.
Hervist to rendir hys frutis maste and leste

c. (In the) amplest or fullest (form), sc. of a charter. 1412 Hawick Ann. 12.
We … grants a special confirmation in the maist forme till our trusty … cosyng [etc.]

2. Largest or greatest in quantity or amount.Very commonly from the 14th to the 16th c., the maste part or party, the largest or most numerous part, the majority.The maste fors, see Fors n. 5. Maste penny, see Penny n.(1) 1375 Barb. vi. 436 (E).
[He] Wes … slane And off his men the mast party a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 101. c1475 Wall. iv. 391.
Son he consawyt … In to that land quha was of maist party 1535 Q. Margaret in Cal. St. P. Henry VIII V. 22 n.
The maist partie of oure landis and lyverent lyis apoune the bordouris of Ingland(2) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 366.
A congregacione … Of puyre & riche men elyke For the maste parte of the kinryke Ib. xxxi. 51.
Scho had leyryte the maste part Of the sewine sciens ?14.. Ship Laws c. 20 (B).
Sum sais the weddyr is gude and sum says nay, the maystir aw to acorde wyth the mast part [Harl. maist party] 1453 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 328.
The alderman and the mast part of the commone consaile 1472 Bamff Chart. 30.
The maste parte of the selys of ws jugis arbitrouris … ar appensit c1515 Asl. MS. I. 309/2.
Noe gaf to Sem his eldest son The best and mast part Asia in the est(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 508.
The maist part off his menȝe Ib. x. 65 (E).
Thai … lettyt thair fayis to fulfill The maist part of thair felny c1475 Wall. ii. 10.
It was his lyff and maist part of his fude To se [etc.] 1518 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II. 179.
The said Robert … is merchand to the maist part of all the woll 1535 Stewart 34907.
The maist part of my lyfe a1538 Abell 94 b.
He gart exame the caus in the Wniuersite of Paris quhare be the maist part it wes concludit at Robert Brus wer richtus hair of Scotland 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI. 523.
Nochtwithstanding the samin war of veritie or maist pairt thairof 1596 Dalr. I. 4/12.
Of all iles … Britannie is the best … quhairof the maiste parte lyes betuein France and Irland(c) 1550–51 Perth Guildry 275 (20 Feb.).
The mestparte of the gild brethir a 1637 Exch. R. I. 23.
The mest pairt of all thir comptis(3) 1375 Barb. xi. 471 (E).
The maist ost and the stoutest Off crystyndome 1447 (1451) Reg. Great S. 106/1.
To wyn colis … to thair awne mast profit 1476 Acta Aud. 42/1.
In the hieest tyme of the market quhen maist multitude of folk ar present 1515 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 155.
The said woll to be sauld for the maist availl 1574 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 20.
That the haill place … be rowpite to the maist availe

b. For (also be) the maste part, maste part, maste fors: Mostly, mainly, in the main.(1) 1375 Barb. viii. 11 (E).
The men maist force come till his pes — a1400 Leg. S. xiv. 47.
Of oure lady al-thire-maste … He gat maste part infowrmynge c1420 Wynt. v. 3159.
Hys counsale mast part thowcht that he Suld [etc.] c1420 Ratis R. 85.
Thaim … That settis maist part thar lewyng In rychtwysnes c 1550 Balcarres P. 316.
The gait was so evill I was contrynit to gang mast part on fut 1567 G. Ball. 166.
Leuand maist pairt in all vice c 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 652/1.
The deseis … wes meist pairt in hir lychtis 1622-6 Bisset I. 238/16.
The raising … of charges upoun decreittis … did consist maist pairt in letteres of four formes(2) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 3289.
Be the maist part all was tane and slane, For richt few enterit in the toun agane(3) 1533 Boece v. ix. 180.
In this journay he was for the maist parte caryit in ane littir 1563 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 187.
The mouthes of the wickit, for the maist part, salbe closit 14.. Acts (1566) To Reader iii.
Seing the lawis … to be for the maist part unknawin bot to … men of law c1590 Fowler II. 117/22.
Men universallye ar for the maist part ingrait, variable, dissemblers 1622-6 Bisset I. 205/30.
The auld fundationis, … and utheris wreittis, … of kirklandis war for the maist pairt distroyed

3. The greatest number of, the majority of. 1533 Boece ii. i. 56 b.
The … gude fame of ane noble man pecifyit and fermyt maist new kinrikis c1590 Fowler II. 83/2.
[By] adionying unto the spirituell parts thereoff [the power of the Pope] (by which it hes maist commandments) sic great rithces … he maid a gros … fault

4. Of non-material things: Greatest in extent, degree, value or effect, most extreme.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i. 561.
Of the capitale, in the mast hecht, He passit vpe Ib. iii. 1032.
Sir, askis hym … the maste ferly That God … has wrocht Ib. xviii. 843. Ib. xxvii. 115.
It is mast sorow of ane Barne to be fra the gettare sa tane c1420 Wynt. ii. 433.
For mast belysyng, Thare-on [sc. the third finger] he gert thame were the ryng Ib. vii. 331.
Come wyttyng till Saynt Margret sone Be revelatyoune, that wes mast That scho had off the Haly Gast(b) 1375 Barb. i. 131.
God that is off maist poweste ?1438 Alex. i. 178.
The best and of the maist bountie Of all that rout salbe sory c1475 Wall. iii. 162.
Durst nane seuer quhill the maist pres was past 1490 Irland Mir. II. 92/36.
The fyre that is of maist actiuite to endure … distroyis amaist all thing that is iunyt to it 1567 G. Ball. 113.
My beleue is in … Thy promittis maist and leist 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 38.
[She] schot away from hir … the ȝoung gentilman, beutifull, neir of hir kyn and (that maist is) inteirly luifing hir a1570-86 Maitl. F. lvi. 91.
Thow bring ws quhair Thy ioy is maist 1587–8 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 8 Feb.
Quha had maist titill thairto 1622-6 Bisset I. 54/9.
[Thy] tressonabill murthoure quhilk thow wold have punised with maist rigoure gif it had bene done be ony uther persone(2) c1420 Ratis R. 217.
It is a wertew maist of price In spekin to be ware and wis(3) ellipt. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 44.
Awys thé weill or thou cum to the preist Of all thi synnes, and namelie of the maist

b. Without expressed or implied comparison: Very great. 1531 Bell. Boece I. vi.
Quhen Priapus … Raqueistit me in his maist tendernes To rest ane quhile amid his gardingis bare Id. Livy I. 115/1.
Thai pepill quhilkis … list defend the barnis fra maist persecucioun of the fader Ib. 154/2. Arundel MS. 242/131.
Thankis be to thé for the maist haly wound of thi syde and maist largnes of thy marcy c1590 Fowler I. 325/4.
Messt spreit in cariage, no girning in his face

c. All (one's) maist, (one's) utmost: cf. C 1. — a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. xc. 21.
He that makis all his maist seruice He may it tyne

5. Of persons: Of greatest authority or consequence, greatest, chief, pre-eminent. Also const. of (= in) some quality (esp. ‘might’). b. Of the designations of persons: Possessing in the highest degree the qualities indicated by the designation, ‘greatest’, ‘biggest’. Also transf.(1) 1375 Barb. v. 446 (E).
Thai war … all weldand As maist lordis our all the land Ib. xi. 508.
The mast coward wes hardy a1400 Leg. S. l. 501.
Of thai masteris ane that was mast Thus … sad [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 2892.
The pape That off the warld is mast byschape Ib. vii. 3053.
Mast off that kyn wes ane, The Erle that tyme off Buchane c1420 Ratis R. 275.
The vij [virtues] to grace ar frendis maist c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 100.
He gaif to the maist synare maist mercy and grace 1490 Irland Mir. I. 26/5.
The fadere is maist of all the hous, barnis, seruandis and vthire Ib. MS. 342.
Scho was … hand fast … to ane of the maist noblis of all the realme c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxv. 23.
Ȝour maist accusar salbe ȝour awin cwnning 1564 Perth B. Ct. 159 (21 Sept.).
Tuelf honest men of the maist & sufficient burgesis of the said burght 1567 G. Ball. 44. a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS. 287 b/30.
Becaus thow art the maist fule now on lyfe a1578 Pitsc. II. 90/5.
Thair hapnit to be ane Itallieane in the castell … quhilk was maist [v.r. maister] devysser to thametransf. a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 3(4)
That … That is maste fay to ioy & blis(2) 1375 Barb. i. 178.
God wat it, that is maist off mycht c1420 Wynt. viii. 3366.
[He] yhald than the gast Till God that wes off mychtis mast a1500 Henr. III. 148/71. c1500 Rowll Cursing i. a1568 Scott i. 7.
Welcum, oure plesand princes maist of pryce! 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 241.
Two or thrie of the worthiest maisters and maist of knowledge of the said crafts

c. Maste maister, see Maister n. 9 c. d. Maste and leste, see Leste a. 3 b and cf. 1 b above. c1475 Wall. v. 1098.
‘Allace’, scho said, ‘giff I mycht anys se, The worthy Scottis maist maister in it to be’

6. Of things: Chief, principal.As applied to material things there is ambiguity with sense i.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 127.
To the maste kirk … he tuk his way, Quhare the gretaste of the towne Assemlyt to se his sermone a1500 Rauf C. 68.
I wait na worthie harberie heir neir hand, … Nane bot mine awin hous, maist in this land c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 851.
We hald our maist mansioun Into this garth baith up and doun 1596 Dalr. I. 51/33.
Dunnotyre … maist mansione of the Erles of Marchel(2) c1420 Ratis R. 833.
The mast motyve that I of red, That is misknawlege of ȝouthed a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 740 (L).
To be maist [cause] of his myscheife

b. Qualifying a verbal noun or noun of action: That one does mostly or for the most part; most frequent, habitual. a1500 Rauf C. 227.
Quhair is thy maist wynning? 1596 Dalr. I. 7/19.
Throuch thir woddis the gretter parte of the nobilitie hes thair maist recreatione in hunting with the sluthe-hundes

B. noun. 1. Absol. uses of A (4 and 5).The rhetorical question Is this the maste ? = Is this all? This is of no consequence. a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 175.
Son, is this the maste That gerris thé thi ȝouthede wast … ? 1456 Hay I. 232/11.
For he that has poware apon the maist has power apon the leste

2. The greatest amount or quantity (also, of something). a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 49.
Quha-sa wald mast hir gefe c1420 Ratis R. 1416.
The fyfte eild … maist can of gud jugment ?1438 Alex. i. 1436.
He lansit … Into the thikkest of the preis Quhar he saw maist of melle was 1456 Hay II. 107/13.
Maist a1500 Henr. Fab. 1311 (Ch.).
Now is he blyith with okker maist may win 1503 Edinb. Hammermen 43 b; 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 52; 1532 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 254 b.
Sanct Eloyis brod was roupit amang the craft quha wald gif mast c1500-c1512 Dunb. lviii. 29.
Quha maist hes than sall maist repent a1568 Blyth Bann. MS. 113a/18.
Than will thay mak at him a knak That maist of his gud hais 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 503. 1586 Montrose Baillie Ct. 26 Nov.
The scheipis girse roupit and Johne Hantone bad maist thair for 1591 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXXI. 175.
The maist that was bidden for the saids guids was the prices fallowing c1590 J. Stewart 61/164.
Quho may meist sall be kend

3. The largest number, the majority. 1375 Barb. ix. 421 (E).
He … the maist off his menye sent … throw the toun c1420 Wynt. viii. 5302.
[He] that mast engrewyt there Suld have the grettast prys c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1219.
Ane hundreth thousand in his gouerning Sum pairt of Grece bot mest of Macedone 1596 Dalr. I. 90/2.
Grettest delyte thay had in oxin flesche … and … quhen the blude was lattin out … the maist vset thame

4. Governed by preps., forming adv. phrases.a. At the maste (also, at maste), as the largest admissible number, ‘at the outside’. b. At the maste, ? for the most part; ? in error for at the leste at least.a. (1) a1500 Seven S. 74.
A myle of at the mast 1516 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 38.
Ane [loaf] to the dosoun at the mast 1549 Banff Ann. I. 26.
[To] have na salt keilling within the howis, accept vi keilling at the maist 1566–7 Mar & Kellie MSS. 16.
Accompaneit with ony ma persons bot twa or three at the mayest c1616 Hume Orthog. 16.
A syllab of vouales and consonantes … beginnes … at one consonant … or els at thre at the maest, as strand, stryp 1606 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 54.
Fyve or sex at the maist of the speciall freyndis of the defunct 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 86.
Than he into his sext Or sevnt yeer at the maist … withe A pedagoge was plac't 1621 Acts IV. 626/1.
That no mae duilweiddis be made at the deathe off anye earle or countes bot tuentie four at the maist(2) 1642 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 52.
That no provest sall be athe rlyted or choosen provest but for two yeers togidder at maistb. c1420 Ratis R. 1490.
Fellony … louit neuir his lord a last Bot he ware tyrand at the maist

c. For the maste, for the most part, for the largest number, the majority of them. ?1549 Monro W. Isles 9.
Within the sanctuarie [of Iona] also lyis for the maist the Lords of the Iles

C. adv. 1. To the greatest extent, in the highest degree; also without comparison, = to a very great extent, very greatly. Const. verb, participle or phrase.See Lippin v. for several further examples.Also alther maste [see Alther a. (2)], maste of all, all (the) maste, the maste, most of all. All thair mast, ? most of all [Alther a. (2)], or ? their utmost (cf. A 4 c). All maist, also ? almost all: see Almast adv. 2.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi. 235 (E).
The flour of all north Irland That hardyest war of thair hand And mast dowtyt in hard assay a1400 Leg. S. ii. 127.
Thame he had in affeccione Maste Ib. iii. 218.
He hym thocht … How he mycht hym maste turment Ib. xviii. 470.
For that wes maste than myn mynd, Quhare-in I mysded maste to kynd 1416 Liber Melros 539.
To laboure as it may mast profite thaim c1475 Wall. x. 562. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 582.
Thingis mast tuichand our intelligens c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 52/21.
The honour of God … is schawin mast in that [good] werk c1590 Fowler II. 125/13.
The thing that above all things dois rander him … mast hated(b) 1375 Barb. i. 46.
[He] aucht that reawte And mayst had rycht thair king to be c1420 Ratis R. 650. 1456 Hay II. 73/12. Ib. 98/32, 147/24.
Quhat thingis fattys orlenys men maist a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 52.
Quhilk he desyrit maist of eirdly thing c1475 Wall. i. 432. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lviii. 2.
Quha monyast [benefices] hes makis maist requeist Id. lxxxiv. 14.
Women wairis thair virginitie On thame that maist ar holdin onworthie a1540 Freiris Berw. 299.
Quhen thay wer maist at eis 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 68.
Ane lytill quair … Embrowd about … with trym termes maist vsit vp on land a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxv. 4.
Quho maist hes wit leist sould in it effy, Quho traistis it maist maist sall him repent c1590 Fowler I. 314/54, 55.
As maist aggreing with his doole, Quhome ȝe may maist command Ib. 238/14.(2) 1533 Boece i. ix. 55.
King Fergus … defendit rubery … and maist of all commoun thift 1572 Sat. P. xxxiv. 26.
In falset thay excell in kynd, In wordes thay maist of all exceid 1607 Crim. Trials II. 536.
I charme thé for arrow-schot, … for hert-schot, all the maist, in the name of the Father, the Sone and Haly Gaist 1617 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VIII. 345.
Three bittir thingis hes yow bittin, ill hairt, ill ee, ill toung all meast(3) 1375 Barb. xvii. 818 (E).
In-till all that day Quhen all thair mast assalyeit thai And the schot thikkest wes with all

b. Passing into: For the most part, mostly, chiefly. c1420 Wynt. ii. 271.
The wemen … Scho gert … be wyrkand, And mast in wolle to keme and spyn Ib. vii. 2288. 1456 Hay I. 240/8.
How thai do in Burgone that maste labouris with hors c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2585.
France was maist in na subiectioun Syne first it bare of France the renoun c1475 Wall. ii. 234.
Celimus was maist his geyeler now a1500 Rauf C. 230.
With my lady the Quene In office maist haue I bene 1513 Doug. v. iv. 41.
The Troianys lauchys … And … thai keklyt … Bot mast, thai makyn gem 1531 Bell. Boece II. 471.
Nocht ceissing … to loif maist thameself a1595 Descr. Isles 431.
Thair daylie exercitation is maist in … taking of foullis … quhairon thay leif for the maist pairt of thair fude

2. Prefixed to an adj. or adv., to form the superlative, in expressed or implied comparison.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 40.
The maste crafty of that land, And that beste cuth do sic thinge 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 295.
Whairthruch the forsaid … micht be maste sikir 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 20.
He ys alsa mast lykand to the men of the land 1398–9 Acts I. 210/2.
It is sene … maste expedient that [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 2986. 1463 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 375.
In the mast sikir & str[at]ast forme c1490 Porteous Noblenes 173/6.
Grettest & mast hie honour a1500 Seven S. 698. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 167/16.
The mast north of thir four fludis is Eufrates, … and Nylus is the mast south 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 382. c1590 Fowler II. 133/28.
Euen these of his mast inuard and mast familiar frends c1616 Hume Orthog. 30.
These, and al that will admit mare and mast, are compared be degrees; as, sueet, more sueet, most sueet(b) 1375 Barb. iii. 41.
Maist awenand To withdraw us 1456 Hay I. 34/12.
In the maist gudely wys I can Ib. 42/9.
The hardiest and maist worthi men of were that he mycht fynd Ib. 63/30, 283/15. a1500 Peblis to Play 84.
To se quha wes maist gay a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 186 (Harl.). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 99/33. 1500 Coll. Aberd. & B. 318.
As thai think mayst ganyng and convenient thairto c1500-c1512 Dunb. xi. 17. Id. lxxvii. 69. 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 114.
Ane the maist just man … Amang Troianys best kepand equite 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 100.
With ony vther corne that he hes maist reddy 1533 Gau 3/8. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 286.
The mone beand in opposition quhen it is maist round 1533 Boece I. viii. 52.
Be the maist equale marchis thai couth 15.. Christis Kirk 189.
Maist lyk 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 99.
Maist ewus quhair we may obtene licence 1559 Montgomery Mem. 155.
In the maist dew and ampill forme 1560 Rolland Seven S. 755.
Quhen wemen speikis fairest thay ar maist fals found Ib. 7909.
Maist wickit of all Ib. 8889. 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV. 224. c1590 J. Stewart II. 17/91.
Quhilk of the tuo maist feruent ȝelus beine c1590 Fowler I. 138/3.
The maist fair face and the maist cruell hart 1598 Conv. Burghs II. 4. 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 167.
The maist decent and cumlie vtter garment 1600 Haddington Mem. II. 208. 1602 Grant Chart. 200. 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 268.
The dead off the yieir, maist difficill and hard to onye man to trauell 1632 Reg. Great S. 645/2. 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 95.
In maist ample forme(c) 1569 St. A. Kirk S. 315.
In the maest patent kirk dur of Balmerynocht c1616 Hume Orthog. i. Ib. 2.
To the maest excellent(d) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 90.
According to my mest bundent dewte 1589 Reg. Morton I. 164.
Ȝour lo. mest humble and affectioned to do ȝow service(e) a1578 Pitsc. I. 14/3.
Quhome thay thocht meist abill(2) a1400 Leg. S. xiii. Prol. 62.
Maste propyrly Ib. 77.
For that the erne maste hey fleis c1420 Wynt. iv. 1211.
How that exalatyowne … Mast hastily mycht closyd be 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. II. 108.
And mast special in the forsaid landis callit Caulte 1490 Irland Mir. I. 32/14. 1550 Stirling Ant. III. 248.
With 4 kowis girs quhar it may be maist quietlie had a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. clxviii. 17.
Quhai … Preiffis maest mychttelye in the feld 1588 Sc. N. & Q. i Ser. I. 37.
To thame that luikis meist scharplie to it c1616 Hume Orthog. 32.
An adverb is a word adhering mast commonlie with a verb

b. Pleonastically, prefixed to the superlative. 1567 G. Ball. 139.
Maist worthyest to haif louing 1571 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson 6.
In the maist surest maner a1578 Pitsc. I. 200/4.
Because he thocht it maist pleasentest duelling thair c1590 Fowler II. 130/15.
That part of factioun that was mast gretest and dangerous

3. Without direct comparison, forming emphatic or intensive superlative: In the highest degree, supremely, exceedingly, very.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 39.
My maste swet & lowit thing 1389 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 15.
Be our mast souereigne & doubtit lorde 1405 Ib. No. 58.
Mast excellent prince 1424 Grey Friars II. 167.
Certan nychbourris, the qwilkis war mast a tentty folk a1500 Henr. Fab. 1139 (Bann.).
Medeator for ws mast meke a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1169.
O hart of man mast hard and insensible 1504 Justiciary Rec. I. 344.
The said mast reverend fader 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 4.
Ane feuir mast wikit c 1614 Melrose P. 599.
A mast wehement storme 1618-60 Lithgow Poet. Remains 6.
His mast princely parts(b) c1460 Regim. Princ. 227.
To leif maist tiranly c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 547.
To me, maist hie Kenydie Id. vii. Title.
The maist hee, maist excellent and maist crystyn prince Loys 1512 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 16.
The kerk … is maist convenient to be completit 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 23.
Thy maist supreme indiuisibill substans … ressauys nane accident Ib. i. Prol. 3, v. xiv. 46. 1531 Bell. Boece xiv. c. 5 (Au.) in Sc. Hist. Rev. XVII. 12. Id. Livy I. 24/19.
The Poticianis … war mony ȝeris eftir maist happy bischoppis Ib. 60/14.
Maist iniurius wourdis Ib. 204/11. 1533 Gau 8/29. 1542–3 Corr. M. Lorraine 6. 1549 Compl. 3/10. 1557 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xl.
The maist blissed worde of God 1560 Rolland Seven S. 911.
The greit goshalk … of wyng maist wonder wicht Ib. 1239. 1561 Conf. Faith in Knox II. 96. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 4/20. Ib. 56/18, 61/17; etc.
Quhilk thing we maist ernestlie desyre a1568 Scott i. 204.
Suppone maist sure He sall thé send support Id. xxxiv. 86.
To leif [= leave off] thay ar maist laith 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 232.
Maist havilie offendit a1585 Maitl. Q. xciii. 4. 1581 Burne Disput. 57.
To cleyth thame [altars] maist richelie Id. Ib. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 122/12. 1588 King Cat. App. 30.
O maist sueit breade 1589 Maxwell Mem. II. 166. c1590 Fowler II. 13/12. Ib. 140/25. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxxvi. 1587-99 Hume 77/288. 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 95.
The womann … affermit it to be maist trew 1600-1610 Melvill 221. Ib. 421. 1610 Crim. Trials III. 103. 1612 Ib. 243. 1621 Lett. Eccl. Affairs II. 648. 1622 Reg. Privy C. XIII. 764. 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 263.
I shall maist curiusly strive to observe these 1625 Justiciary Cases I. 20. 1622-6 Bisset II. 389/8. 1682 Lauder's Observes App. iv. 304.(c) 1579 St. A. Kirk S. 442.
Quhilk petition the said Thomas thinking maest vyld and ungodlie(d) 1582 Douglas Corr. 178.
With the ambassador of the Mest Christian King 1582 Colville Lett. ii.
Mest humlie(e) 1585 Gray Lett. & P. 47.
Your lordships meist lowing brother 1597 Acts IV. 152/1.
Being ane meist necessair refuige(2) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 4.
His maist derrest spous

4. Almost, nearly.Perh. rather an aphetic form of Almast, Amast. a1538 Abell 25 b.
The Romanis maist ourcume the wynge of the Scottis quhare the women myxt faucht with the men Ib. 90 b.
Sanct Francis gret sa continualie the passion at maist he tint his eyn 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4336.
Ȝon sow Quhilk … Had maist haue reft me of my lyfe 1590 Burel Pilgr. 20.
His haist then had maist then Cost him ane winding sheit 1597 Crim. Trials II. 27.
Scho put the samin [sark] vpoune him wat, quhairthrow he maist haif sownit