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: 1399-1603
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Menstral(l)y, n. Also: -ie, -ye, menstrely, -ellie. [f. Menstral(l n. Only Sc. Cf. Minstrelly (and Menstralsy).]
1. Minstrelsy, playing and singing, music.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii. 662.
Thane wes mad gret joy in hy With syndry kynde of menstraly ?1438 Alex. ii. 5840.
Carralland with semely sang And myrth of menstrally c1420 Wynt. v. 2673 (W).
He gert hir leire of menstraly c1420 Ib. 2108. a1500 Bk. Chess 29.
Sum lykis wele to heir of menstraly And sum the talk of honest company c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxviii. 13.
For mirth, for menstrallie and play 1535 Stewart 28632.
With menstralie and mirth of euerie man a1538 Abell 50 b.
Thai ar blith at menstralie 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 65/28.
Appollo … vitht his sueit menstralye c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1174.
Thus leuit the squyer plesandlie, With musick and with menstralie c1550 Ib. 1569. c1550 Id. Test. Meldrum 142. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1588. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 45/7.
And the word of God is to thaim as ane ballat of menstralie quhilk hes ane sueit tone and plesand to sing 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 37. 1570 St. A. Kirk S. 341.
New mareit personis … perturbis the town wytht rynning thair throw in menstralye and harlatrye 1603 James VI Basil. Doron 199/10.
His skill in menstrally(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii. 191.
& til haf had menstrely & in all degre haf mad mery 15.. Clariodus ii. 1184.
With joyous sound of hevinlie menstrellie
2. Musical instruments, collectively. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 941.
And syne the trumpettis schawmis and menstrallie Maid sic ane reird it was gret melodie a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2524.
With trumpe & talburn [etc.] … All menstraly in vnisoun Befor the barne all playit thai
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"Menstraly n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/menstrally>
