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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.

Mote, Mot(t, Moit, n.¹ Also: moyt, moat(e, moot, (mute). [ME. and e.m.E. mote, moote, e.m.E. moate, ME. and OE. mot.]

1. A small particle of dust or the like.a. One of the specks of dust seen in a sunbeam.In plur., also without inflexion.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 494.
[Fiends] … fulfillit sa the are As motis ar in sown-beme fare 1490 Irland Mir. I. 40/3.
As the licht of the sone schawis the powdere and motis in the sone beyme 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 20.
Atomus, the motes of the sunne 1500-1699 Herbarius Latinus Annot. (Bot.).(2) c1500 Rowll Cursing 112.
And vtheris deuilis thair sall be sene Als thik as mote [B. mot] in sonnis beme

b. An irritating particle in the throat. a1400 Leg. S. xx. 345.
Quha-sa-euire in thare throt Seknes has, awne ore mot [etc.] 1567 G. Ball. 110 (see Mouswob n.).

c. A speck floating in a liquid. 1500-1699 Herbarius Latinus Annot. (Bot.).
The mottis in a vomanis vryng [proves] at that woman is with barne … & gif that thing be quhit that driffis tharin [etc.]proverbs a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1072.
Lang or sic a mote fall in ȝour dish a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 892.
It is long since we saw a mot in ȝour cap

d. A minute speck, a very small body. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 625.
Quhare we mycht se the erth all at one sycht Bot lyk one moit, as it apperit to me, In to the respect of the heuinnis brycht

2. A spot, a blemish. a1568 Bann. MS. 141 a/15.
It wes full ill to fynd ane moit [: thrott, nott, ioitt] vpoun hir goun

3. ‘A tuft of wool forming the nap on cloth’ (OED.). 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 779.
To sponge his cloak durst not be done, It hurt the woole and wrought it bair, Puld off the mottes

4. In transf. and fig. applications of and 2.a. With allusion to Matth. vii. 3, Luke vi. 42.1456 Hay II. 156/22. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 499.
Beis notour studyus to spy a moyt in myne e That in your awyn a ferry boyt cannocht se Ib. Direct. 66. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 26/4.
A moate in ane others eye is a beame into youris, a bleamishe in ane other is a leaprouse byle into you a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 920.

b. A scruple. c. A ‘blemish’, a ‘drawback’. 1619 Sel. Biog. I. 73.
Some subscribed without any condition roundly and made no moats of it a1650 Row 422.
Some made no motts of it to subscryve … absolutelie a1661 Rutherford Lett. (1664) 114.
I speak it for your encouragement, that ye may make the best out of your joyes ye can, albeit ye finde them mixed with motes