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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.

Miln-, Mil(l)-dam, n. Also: milne-, myln(e)-, myllin-, -yn-, myl- and -dam(m)e, -daime. [ME. miln(north., 1394–5), myln-dam (c 1440), early mulnedam (1182), e.m.E. (north.) millne-dame (1632).] A milldam.(a) 1427 Wemyss Chart. 53.
Leue for to make a myllyn dame Ib.
The said myllin dam 1466 Reg. Dunferm. 357.
To mak ony mylnis or myln dam 1480 Acta Conc. I. 60/1.
A water lade and mylne damme 1497 Ib. II. 77, 1501 Ib. III. 38. 1503 Acts II. 242/2.
Anentis the slaaris of smotis in mylne dammis c1575 Balfour Pract. 493.
Ane miln-dam 1579 Liber Dryburgh 309.
Aqueductum vocatum lie myln dam ville de Drybruch 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV. 328.
Of his possessioun of the said wattergang and mylnedam 1599 Reg. Great S. 284/2. 1605 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXV. 55.
[They] threw the complainer's wife in the milne dame 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 86. 1621 Urie Baron Ct. 36. 1624 Melrose P. 582. 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II. 18. 1669 Urie Baron Ct. 89.
Two men … to work att the milne daime of Cowieattrib. 1696 Acts X. 77/1.
His Majestie … ordains a constant slop in the mid stream of each miln dam dyke and … discharges all fishing at such miln dam dykes(b) 1480 Acta Conc. I. 60/2.
He suld nocht draw the said myl damme throu the saide landis 1506 Peebles B. Rec. I. 37.
Le myldammys multuris et eorum sequelis 1653 Ib. II. 9.
The tounes commoun ground callit of old the mildam Ib. 16.
At the mildame to the malt milne