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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.

Mukill, Muckil(l, a., n. and adv. Also: -ell, -l(e; moukill. [Var., with unexplained change of vowel, of Mikill or Mekill; also (? north.) e.m.E. muckle (1600), and common in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. and north. Ir. dialects.It seems unlikely that there is any direct relationship with the w. midl. and south. ME. mucle (Layamon), mu(c)kel (14th c.), mokel (1379), also mochell, muchel, where the u, o spelling prob. represents a different vowel.]Not found alone in Sc. before the late 16th c. (but cf. Mukil(l)wort n.), unless, as seems possible, the following is intended to repr. a Sc. pronunc.: Men of mokill speche mon som tyme lye; Fortescue 264.

a. adj. Big, large, great, much. b. absol. as n. Much. c. adv. Much, to a great extent.a. (1) 1593 Logie Par. Hist. I. 38.
Johnne Hendirsone … creipit in the kirk undir the litill dur and opnit within the mukill dur 1651 Montgomery Mem. I. 314.
Fayue [= five] mounters littill and moukill 1654 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 354.
Within the muckle yett 1667 Dumbarton Kirk S. Oct. 24.
His muckell coat was unbuttened c 1700 Fugitive Poetry II. xli. 2/43.
The upper muckle end Of her nain shell's snuff-mill(2) 1649 Corstorphine Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. i Ser. IV. 27.
In the likeness of a mukill grim man 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 648.
A muckle woman with a reid coat(3) 1650 Letter from the Lord General Cromwel concerning the Rendition of the Castle of Edinburgh 16.
The greit iron murderer Muckle Meg(4) a1665 W. Guthrie Letters Horning 7.
The mukle devil will be that mans for he is mukle and they are greedy c 1700 Fugitive Poetry II. xli. 4/109.
For her nain shell coult wish Te muckle Teil had tene tem all(5) 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 60.
This hath won me muckle gearb. ? 15.. Watson Mazer (Royal Sc.
Tyne geir tyne litil tyne honour tyne muckil tyne hart tyne al 1617 Inverurie 203.
Mus.). That he suld giff me as mukle as my nybour had gottenc. 1600 Bruces & Cumyns 615.
This piece of cros … will nocht … put you mukle by dyatt 16.. Watson's Coll. i. 37.
It very muckle did me please 1640 Aberd. Council Lett. II. 271.
Dailie I admyre mukle that I get not advertisment from yow 16.. in Anal. Scot. I. 286.
Agains the heid aiking by to muckill drinking 1692 Presb. Eloq. (2 ed.) 96.
In England, that stands muckle in mister of a reformation