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.
Middil(l, Mid(d)le, n. Also: middell, myddil(l, -yll, mydell, myd(d)le. [ME. midle, ME. and OE. middel.]
The ‘middle’ of the human body, the waist.?1438 Alex. ii. 2399, 3862.
The only Sc. use of this noun. Hir middle small a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 180. Id. III. 103/22. c1475 Wall. vii. 307.
The myddyll off ane he mankit ner in twa c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 63.
With … mydlis small as wandis 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 31.
Thai … twys cyrkyllit his myddil [Sm. myddle] rownd about Ib. xii. v. 132. c1510 Prester John 311 b.
Fra thar myddill downwart 1531 Bell. Boece I. 177. 1535 Stewart 214. 1549 Compl. 11/29. 1570 Leslie 59. 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 88, etc.
