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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.

May, n.² Also: mai, ma. [ME. and e.m.E. may, mai, (Orm) maȝȝ, prob. OE. poetic mǽᵹ kinswoman, woman, maiden, possibly influenced by ON. møyj-, meyj- (nom. mæ-r, accus. møy, mey, gen. møyjar, meyjar, etc.), maid, girl, virgin.] A maiden, damsel.As appar. also in ME. and mod. Eng., chiefly poetic (also appar. gnomic): cf. also, however, quot. 1565 and Maychilde n. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 601.
Confort thé wele, my blissit may [: say] Ib. l. 1189. c1420 Wynt. viii. 45.
For to be weddyt wyth that may, The Kyngis douchtyr off Norway Ib. vi. 872. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3869. 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 388.
God … Gart Hym manheid of the may Mary a1500 Henr. III. 147/42.
That gudely may Ib. /47. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 97.
Mary, mylde may [: fay, lay, away] a1500 Sir Eger 397. a1500 Seven S. 1027.
A faire ȝoung may Janot was cald Ib. 2474.
The knycht … said till hir, My derrast may [: ay] Se ȝe [etc.] 1513 Doug. vi. i. 6.
That feirfull gowsty cave … And secret hald of Sibilla the may [: way] Ib. iii. v. 89, xi. vii. 162, xiii. viii. 99. a1550 Murning Maiden 3. 1535 Stewart 5620.
Manlie he wes and meik as ony ma [: into pla] a1568 Bann. MS. 141 a/6.
I met a cleir vndir kell A weilfaird may [: Weddinsday] a1570-86 Maitl. F. liv. 1. a1568 Scott ii. 201.
This Will was he begyld the may [: play, away, day] Id. xxviii. 6.
With that sweit may [: to sport and pley] 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 234.
The said Joanna wes constranit … be just fear and dredor that mycht fall in ane constant mai a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. 9. c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix. 23. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 728.
He that maries a motherles may gets a bountieles bryd Ib. No. 1457.