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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.

Mule, Muill, n.¹ Also: mwl(e, mwll, mul(l, moole. [ME. (1297) and e.m.E. mule, muyle, moyle, meule, etc., e.m.E. moole, OF. mul masc., mule fem.; cf. also ME. (once) moul (14th c.), OE. múl, L. mūlus.] A mule, the animal.For many further instances, see the Indexes to Treas. Acc. III–XI.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 319.
Assis, mulis, schepe & swyne 1456 Hay II. 159/11. Ib. I. 240/6.
And with him his mule and all his provisioun c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 789. c1500 Rowll Cursing 178 (M).
Sum on ane mule and sum on ane meir 1495 Treas. Acc. I. 228.
For the gilting of the Kingis mvlis harnysing 1508 Ib. IV. 134.
For ane heltir to the Quenes mule 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 81.
Other dantit grettar bestiall … Lik as mulis, horssis, oxin and ky 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 333.
Geue thay can play at the cairtis, And mollet moylie on ane mule 1531 Bell. Boece I. xv.
The mule is of ane langar live Than stonit hors 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4559.
Thay sowld have luggis als lang as mvlis 1540–1 Treas. Acc. VII. 425.
Twa cordwall skynnis to cover the mule sadill 15.. Christis Kirk 213 (M).
Thai wox als mait [B. meik] as ony mulis That maggit war with malis 15.. Black Bk. Taymouth 167.
I leif the abbot pride and arrogance With trappit mwles in the court to ryde 1562-3 Winȝet I. 130/7.
Will ȝe heirfor a man to be as a stane hors or mule? 1567 G. Ball. 197. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 44.
We and our page to turs our mulis [: fulis, ȝulis, stulis; Q. muillis] Ib. ii.attrib. c1500 Rowll Cursing 203 (B).
With prik mule eiris(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 899 (Bann.).
The ais the mwll the hors of ewerye kynd 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 9.
Gevin for twa harnessingis of welvot ourgilt, ane for ane mul and ane othir for the grete hors 1558-66 Knox I. 51.
The mantenance and uphald of thair bardit mullis a1568 Scott xxxiv. 107.
The mull frequentis the annis And hir awin kynd abusis a1578 Pitsc. I. 248/28.
The Paip lichtit doune of his mull and deliuerit hir to Bischope Androw Forman(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxi. 62 (R).
Ane forriddin muill [: cuill] Ib. 72.
Busk him lyk ane beschopis muill [: ȝuill] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3363 (Ch.).
I [sc. Spiritualitie] ryde vpon ane amland muill [: fuill] Ib. 3725 (Ch.).
With glorious habite rydand vpon ȝour muillis [: fuillis]

b. Also as a type of stupidity; hence, a person with the stupidity of a mule, an ass, a dolt. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv. 24.
New tane fra sculis, sa mony anis and mvlis [: fulis, trulis] Within this land was nevir hard nor sene a1585 Polwart Flyt. 162 (H).
Thy tyrd comparisones asklent Are monstrous lik the mule that maid them Ib. 814 (T).
Fleyit fwill, mad mule [H. moole], die in duil on ane aik Ib. 728 (H). a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 840 (Wr.).
Some day then yee may then Passe master with the mules [: schooles] Ib. 871.
A man to bee a moole