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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1697
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May, Maii, n.1 Also: Maye, Mai(e; Maij; Mayi; Mey. [ME. (13th c.) and e.m.E. May, Mai, F. Mai, also ME. and OE. Maius, L. Māius.The form Maii (Maij) is after L. Māii, gen. of Māius.]
1. The month of May. a. As a date.(a) 1386 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
To the last day of May next comand 1396 Sc. Ant. XIV. 217.c1420 Wynt. i. 388. c1450-2 Howlat 1. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 9. 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 160.
For staying of the awld superstitioun … commounly vsit in the tyme of May 1681 Wodrow Hist. (1829) III. 351.
We renounce … no marrying in the month they call May(b) 1375 Barb. xiv. 21 (E).
In till the neyst moneth of Mai [C. Maij] 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 33.
Mai 1429 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 11.
The xxix day of Maie 1596 Dalr. II. 182/35.
The neist Mai(c) 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 94/6.
Making … laufull games in Mey & good cheir at Yule(d) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii. 855.
The nynt kalendir of Maij 1389 Liber Melros 449. 1506 Edinb. Chart. 190. 1518 Treasurer's Accounts V. 148.
For thair double abilȝeamentis for Ȝoule and Maii 1562 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæval Plays 152.
[Accused of calling the community] to pas to the wood to bring in symmer vpoun the first sonday of Maij 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 134.
[That] na Robene Hudis … suld be chosin … this Maii approcheand 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 126. a1578 Pitsc. I. 296 n. 2. 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 2 Apr.(e) 1449 Acts II. 38/2.
Mayi
b. Very freq. alluded to by poets as a time of verdancy etc. and of happiness and rejoicing generally, esp. for lovers.c1450-2 Howlat 998.
In mirthfull moneth of May c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 281 b.
Thus I begane in the lustie tyme off Maij a1500 Henr. Fab. 514 (Bann.).
This iolye May c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 19, 59, 261. c1500-c1512 Id. Tua Mar. W. 87.
Als fresche of his forme as flouris in May c1500-c1512 Id. xlvi. 20.
Saying, ‘Awalk, ȝe luvaris, O, this May’ c1500-c1512 Id. xlviii. 4, 38. 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 280. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1036. 1530 Id. Test. Pap. 635. 15.. Clariodus v. Prol. 3. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8965. a1568 Scott v. 15. 1570 Satirical Poems xxiv. 1.
In Mayis moneth … Quhen luiffaris dois thair daylie obseruance To Venus Quene a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 38 (W).
Every blome … In Mayis cullour cled a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxix. 1.
c. Allusively and proverbially —a1570-86 Kennedy Maitland Folio MS lxxi. 10.
Thy fulies lust lestis scant ane maij c1500-c1512 Dunb. xii. 18.
Come nevir ȝit May so fresche and grene Bot [etc.] c1500-c1512 Id. lxv. 15. 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 94.
With festuale flowris … as in May 1513 Ib. xii. Prol. 309.
The lusty crafty preambill, perle of May 15.. Clariodus i 674.
With him his lady fresch as is the May a1568 Scott v, 26. a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xxxi. 12.
Fresche Maii and cauld Januarye a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 225.
Come it aire, come it late, in May comes the cowquake a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 380 (see March n.1 (a)).
d. personified. —c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 82.
There saw I May, of myrthfull monethis quene c1500-c1512 Id. xlviii. 15, 62.
e. fig. —c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 341.
Weill I knaw thy vndantid barnage Will haif ane May
2. The festivities held during the month of May, especially on the first, or the first Sunday.Also Quene or King of May and bringing in of May.See esp. Mill Mediæv. Plays 19 f.a1500 Peblis to Play 89.
Sum said that thai wer merkat folk Sum said the quene of May wes cumit 1506 Treasurer's Accounts III. 197.
To ane quene of Maij on the gait 1506 Ib. 332. 1512 Ib. IV. 398.
To the ald quene of Cannongait callit the quene of Maij 1555 Acts II. 500/1. 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæval Plays 220.
Jhonn Richertsoun saidler, kyng of May 1577 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 388.
That his grace wald discharge playes of Robin Hood, king of May, and sick vthers on the sabboth day 1592 Errol Par. Reg. in Mill Mediæval Plays 243.
Discharges all bringing in off Mayes as the fascheoun ves and pastymes on the Lordis day —1600 Ib. 244 (see May(i)ng vbl. n.).
b. ? A maypole or other focal point for the May celebrations.1591 Perth Kirk S. in Mill Mediæval Plays 281.
All ongodly pastyme to be dischairgit that is vsit on Sonday … eftir preitsching … especially filthy and wngodly singing about the Mayis
3. Attrib. in sense 1 with flowers, morning, sessoun, and with kow and weather (a beast paid in May).Also May-day, -play, -pole, etc.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 87.
Traist scho till him maid To mete hir airly in ane May morning In that gairding c1460 Ib. 939.
Maij morning a1500 Henr. Orph. 93. a1540 Freiris Berw. 28. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 137.
In till ane myrthfull Maij morning c1552 Lynd. Mon. 126.
Maye mornyng —c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 24.
Grein … as the gres that grew in May sessoun —a1570-86 Dunb. Maitland Folio MS cxlii. 15.
As Maii flouris dois in September dry 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 198.
Mayflowers & morning vapours & summer mist posteth not so fast away as [etc.](2) 1660 Galloway P. 5 Apr.
The first peyment to be at Mairtimas … togither also with tuo ruch Maii wedders 1697 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 27 Nov.
Debts outawing … Item given him quhen he went to the cailly to pay the May weather 40 s. Scots —1664 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 31.
Ane kow callit the may kow with the haill profeit therof
