Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Mol(l)et(t, -at, n.² [Of obscure origin. Deriv. f. OF. molette spur-rowel, Mol(l)et(tn.¹, is uncertain. There may also be a connection with ME. (14th c.) molayne, north. e.m.E. (Cath. Angl.) molan, mulan, appar. = some type of bit or curb, the origin of which is equally obscure: the latter may be the earlier repr. of mod. Eng. dial. mullen a kind of bridle or head-stall (and see Millen-bridle n.).] Appar., a type of restraining bit for a horse: cf. Mollet(t)-bridil(l) n. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 349.
Thar myght na molet [M. mollat] mak me moy, na hald my mouth in 1513 Doug. vii. iv. 196.
Thai [horses] runge the goldin mollettis burnyst bright [L. fulvum mandunt sub dentibus aurum] 1529 Treas. Acc. V. 360.
To the said Robert tua licht molletis