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.
Quotation dates: 1501-1646
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Muse, n.1 Also: mws, muis. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. and F. muse, L. mūsa.]
1. One of the nine Muses or classical sister-goddesses of learning and the arts. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. 366.
Beside that cristall well … Alichtit doun thir musis cleir of hew 1513 Id. Æn. ix. iii. 1.
Say me, O Musys, reherses and declare Quhilk [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 220.
Sick marde Musis may mak me no supplee a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 102.
Muses nyne all science first began a1585 Ib. lxv. 96. c1590 J. Stewart 141/1. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 97 (W).
Mair sweitlie … Nor muisses [v.r. mwssis] that vses at fountaine Helicon
b. The Muses, put for: The liberal arts, learning. — c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 33.
In bestowing upon the colledge an honest residence for the Muses
c. Muse-foe, one who is an enemy to ‘the Muses’ or arts and poetry. — 1604 Craig i. 10.
Let Muse-foe Mars elsewhere abroad go dwell
2. The deity or person invoked, or regarded, by a poet or writer as his source of inspiration; the inspiring goddess of a particular poet. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 454.
Thou Kyng of Kyngis, Lord Etern, Thou be my muse, my gydar and laid stern 1513 Ib. 463. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 238.
Raueand Rhammusia, goddes of dispyte, Mycht be to me ane muse rycht conuenabyll c1552 Ib. 241.
I mon ga seik ane muse mair confortabill c1552 Ib. 248. a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xciv. 2.
Before my face this nyght to me appeird My silent muse in sorrou all confound a1605 Montg. Son. xliv. 9.
My muse, let Mercure language to me len
b. The spirit or style in which a poem is written; (the nature of) a particular poet's or writer's genius. 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 40.
The muse suld with the person aggre algait 1513 Ib. Concl. 16.
My muse sal now be cleyn contemplatyve, And solitar c1590 Fowler I. 321/7.
Melvin, len me some portion of thy muse 1622-6 Bisset I. 19/7.
My musis braith they hinder and they smoir
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"Muse n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/muse_n_1>
