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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.

Michael-, Michelmes, -mas, n. Also: Michaell-, Micheal-, Michell-, Michal(l)-, Mi(c)hil-, Mickell-; Mychael-, Mychel-, Mychal-; Mechel(l)-, Meychel-, Me(c)hal(l)-; Machell- and -mess, -mass, -mis, -mis(s)e; and Michelymes. [ME. and e.m.E. Mychelmesse (1377), Meghel- (1435), Mykylmes (1469), ME. Miel- (1296), Miȝhel-masse (c 1290).] The feast day of St. Michael, 29 Sept. 1264 Exch. R. I. 2.]
[Usque ad festum Sancti Michaelis, lxiii(a) 1410–11 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 30.
The law day and hed court nixt eftir Michelmes c1420 Wynt. viii. 5067.
Schyr Andrewe … Efftyre the Michaellmes passyd [etc.] 1440 Cop. St. A. 209.
At thre termys, that is to say, Michaelmess, Candilmes and Pax 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 63.
For schone to Jok Stewart and butis fra Michelmes 1485 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 52. 1498 Lanark B. Rec. 10. 1503 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 356.
Betuyx the date heirof and the feist of Sant Michael the archangel callit Michelmes 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 190.
At the tyme of Michaelmes vsit to cheis and elect the samyn [officeris] 1629 Linlithgow B. Rec. 26 June.
To be ane officer quhill Michelmas c 1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 607.
Trowts … taken only betwix Michelmess and Hallowmess 1650 Brechin Presb. 26.
He dwyned till Michaelmass 1650 Lanark B. Rec. 145.
Michellmes 1651 Melville Corr. 233.
Michilmise 1652 Lamont Diary 45.
Michelmisse 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 293.
Michalmis 1657 Balfour Ann. III. 432. 1672 Melrose Reg. Rec. II. 322.
Betuixt Witsonday and Mihilmes 1676 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS. 2 Oct.
Declaired baillies quhill Mickellmas nixt 1678 Soc. Ant. XXX. 20.
At Michelymes nixtocom 1682 Lanark B. Rec. 212.
Michaelmis 1682 Irvine Mun. II. 298.
Fra Michalmess [1679] to Michalmass [1681](b) c1420 Bute MS. 158 b.
Thre principale mutys … the fryst eftyr Mychalmes 1440 Cop. St. A. 174.
Mychelmes 1500 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. i. 88.
At the Mychelmis efter the greit deid 1561 Inverness Rec. I. 119.
To Mychelmas nixt 1562 Prot. Bk. J. Drummond MS. 19.
To pay … at Mychaelmes nixt and … Andromes 1600 Conv. Burghs II. 84.
The electioun of thair magistrattis at Mychalmes last(c) 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I. 125.
At Beltan v s. and at Mechelmes other v s. 1472 Ib. 168. 1496 Halyb. 24.
Mechellmes 1542–3 Lanark B. Rec. 21.
Mechallmes 1557–8 Perth Guildry 11 Feb.
Mechelmes 1587 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 20 May.
To paye the saming betuix & Mehalmes

b. Attrib. and comb.(1) 1456 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 15.
Vpoun the day nixt befoir Michalmes day the dusane … vsit to cheis the lytis of the officiaris 1490 Treas. Acc. I. 170.
On Meychelmes da … the Kingis offerrand 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 32.(2) 1560 Bk. Disc. 217.
Then shall on Michaelmess evin convene the hoill principallis [etc.] 1578 Moysie 19.
The xxviij day of September, being Michelmas ewin 1657 Balfour Ann. II. 93.
Vpone Michelmisse eine(3) 1497 Halyb. 176.
In the Machellmes merkat 1580 Conv. Burghs I. 100.
Agane the Michaelmes mercat nixt(4) 1599 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 366.
At the nixt Michelmes court 1616 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 141.
Presentlie assemblit at thair Michaelmes heid court 1666 Rothesay B. Rec. 125.
Michalmes court holdin … upone the first day of October(5) 1531 Soc. Ant. II. 393.
To begyn quhair the Michaelmas wache left a1578 Pitsc. I. 339/7.
Quhill the Michallmas perdoun 1590 Conv. Burghs I. 314.
At the Michealmes electione of prouest and magistratis 1700 Acts X. 205/2.
Lie Michaelmass fair