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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.

Mat(t)ok, n. Also: mattock, mathok, (mattow). [ME. mattok(e, e.m.E. matto(c)k, OE. mattuc, mettoc, meottuc, masc.] A mattock, also possess. and attrib. with schaft. b. Applied to Neptune's trident.For numerous further examples, see the indexes to the various vols. of Treas. Acc. and to M. Works Acc. c1420 Wynt. v. 2916.
A mattok [W. mattow] syne he tuk … And wyth that rypyd to the grownd 1455 Exch. R. VI. 92.
Pro … xj pikkis, sub uno precio quinque solidorum, et v matokis precium pecie duo solidi c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 61.
Sum vithe mattokis begaine for to myne 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 116. a1500 Seven S. 1744.
With spaide and gavillok and mattok wicht Ib. 862. 1504 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 99.
To furneis for the clenging and mending of the havin vj pikkis and mattokis and gavelokis to sufficient number 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 253/2. 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 185.
For twa new matokis contenand ane stane and half ane pund wecht maid irne werk 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII. 271.
lx pynoraris witht schule and mattok 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 288.
We wroycht with pykkis and mattokkis quhill the wall wes cwttit 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. (S. H. S.) 352. 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 135.
To iij … men that rasit the stanis with mattoks 1562-3 Winȝet II. 6/5. 1565 Reg. Privy S. I. 360. 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 12.
x pownd … of yrin to mak ane mattok and to lay ane other 1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II. 486. 1594 Crim. Trials I. ii. 343. 1605 Black Bk. Taymouth 344.
A heland spead, a lawland sped, a matok 1609 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 63.
In stryking the said James with ane mattok to his head a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 114.
Mattocks 1645 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 110.
For ane matok and fitt sped c1650 Spalding I. 84.possess. 1530 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 38.
For … iii pikkis and mattokkis schaftisattrib. 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 324.
Twa mattok schaftis to twa new mattokis 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 193.
For ane mathok schaft, viij d. 1564–5 Ib. 206.
Mattow 1576 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 300.
For vi matok schaftisb. 1513 Doug. ii. x. 90.
Neptune … With his gret mattok [L. tridenti] havand granys thre