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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.

Mercat-place, n. Also: mercatt-, mercate-, merket-, merkat-. [Cf. Market-place n.] A place where a market is held, usually a wide street or open space in a burgh; a market-place. 1567 Acts III. 25/2.
[Fornicators] salbe … presentit to the mercat place 1581 Ib. 212/1.
That censouris be appoyntit in the merkat places of all burrowis … with power [etc.] 1586–7 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 482.
The merket place for selling of thair [sc. the cordiners'] wark … in the Kowgaitt 1587-99 Hume 158/56. 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 329.
Doun ellangous the haill toun to the mercat place and croce 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II. 6.
For intimatioun … at the mercate places 1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 311. 1656 Edinb. B. Rec. IX. 38. 1611-57 Mure Historie … of Rowallane 247.
The which wer erected in the open mercat place 1658 Lanark B. Rec. 166.
Till it come to the publict mercat place 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 1 Apr. 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 34. 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 188.
The cloyster … of old was the great mercat-place of … the Senȝie Mercat 16.. Ouchterlony Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 30.
Dundie hath … a large mercat place with a very fyne tolbuith & croce