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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.

Mussil(l, n. Also: mwssill, mussyll; mus(s)el(l, muschell; mussle. [e.m.E. mussel (a 1590), beside muskle, muscul(l etc. (see Muscle n.): cf. MLG. mussel and OE. muscle.] A mussel.Also Hors-mussil in Additions & Corrections, Vol. III.Also plur. without inflection as coll.Also attrib. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 440.
Benytas of ane mussill maid ane aip 1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 2 a.
For mussyllis & pranys vj d. Ib. 19 a.
Mwssillis 1521 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 98.
Mussillis nor kokillis 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxviii. Ib. xliv. 1534 Wigtown B. Ct. 297 b.
The custome fres fys, vylkis, mussillis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1805.
Thou sall haue ȝeirly for thy hyre The teind mussellis of the Ferrie myre 1546 Id. Trag. Card. 380.
Fantastyke fenȝeit flatt[err]aris Most meit to gather mussillis in to Maye 1549 Compl. 57/17.
Oistirs and mussillis & al vthir schel fysche grouis … eftir the coniunctione of the mune a1568 Scott v. 33. 1567 Inverness Rec. I. 155.
Gif he beis fundin … sell ony mussillis to ony landwart man 1596 Dalr. I. 62/26. Ib. 42/22.
Innumerables mussillis, in quhilkes war fund nocht fishe … bot foulis 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 172.
Muschellis 1674 Sc. Ant. I. 177.
Musels 1678 Musselburgh 138.
Ane silver coup in the form of ane mussel Colvil 1681 Whig's Suppl. i. 5.
When trouts and Abercorn mussles Are stark noughtcoll. 1662 Bentinck Dornoch 240.
For tackeing mussell one this syde off the ferrieattrib. 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 10 (B).
The presoun wall … wes mingit and maid with mussill teith c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 266 a/41.
Quhen that … mvssill schellis gevis moir money than meill