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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.

Mute, v.¹ Also: mut, mwt(e, muit, mote, moot. P.p. mot(e, also mutit, -ed. [ME. and e.m.E. mote, early motien, late ME. (north.) moyte, e.m.E. (north.) mute (Cath. Angl.), e.m.E. moot(e, OE. mótian f. mót Mute n.¹With sense 2 cf. also e.m.E. mute (1570) ? to murmur, complain, of doubtful origin.]

1. a. intr. To speak.To tell, talk, also ? to confer, discuss, (of someone or something); to converse (on (in) a certain topic); to address speech (to a person); to employ a certain kind of speech or language; to utter words; to mute on, to carry on speaking, ‘say on’.(1) 1375 Barb. xiii. 60.
This marschall that I of mwt c1420 Wynt. vi. 893 (W).
Off hir I byde to mute na mare, Bot to proceid in oure matere c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2513.
Syne of the were thai mute a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1374 (H).
Off hevin so hie … No toung can tell … Off that mater in myrknes we may mvte 1535 Stewart 52949.
The Ballioll he passit to Renfrow, Of sindrie materis quhair he had to mute a1605 Montg. Misc. P. ix. 12.
If thou be he of vhom so mony moots(2) 1535 Stewart 28341. Ib. 46142, 48326.
In that mater now I will mute no moir a1568 Bann. MS. p. 14/30.
In hevinly thocht and thy servyse … Sene we may nowdir mote [v.rr. mvt, mwt] nor munt(3) a1500 Sir Eger 1229.
Courteously to him could she mute(4) a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. cxxxvi. 33.
Be I ornat in my speiche Than Towsie sayis I am our streche, I mwte not lyk to thair meynȝe [v.r. I speick nocht lyk thair hous meinȝe](5) a1614 D. Hume in W. Cowper Dikaiologie (1614) 91.
To giue him a command of the watch … to command, controll, that they mute not, stirre not(6) a1603 Anc. Prophecies 39.
Mute on if ye may for mister ye haue

b. tr. To speak, utter, say (words, a statement, an imprecation etc.).Also const. to an interlocutor, of the person or thing spoken of. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 704.
Vith that scho … to thame cane sic wordis mwte Ib. xxiv. 430.
For thu na word wil to me mut a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 375.
For thow sick malice of thy maister mutis 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 91.
The first sillabis that thow did mute Was pa, Da Lyn, vpon the lute a1605 Montg. Flyt. 288 (T).
Of that mismaid mowdywart mischief they mwte [H. muit]

2. Passing into: intr. To argue, debate, plead; to protest, object.Const. of, for and, latterly, against something, with a person and for (= on behalf of) a person.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 138.
Quhen he it fand na but, Forthir thare-of for to mute c1475 Wall. vii. 935.
Quhen he saw weill tharfor he mycht nocht mwte 1637 Baillie I. 43.
Thinking that it is the bishops intention … to have stopped … all mouths that would have muted against the booke or them 1644 Ib. II. 147.
This was read openlie … in the eares of the Independents, who durst not mute against it(2) c1475 Wall. x. 994.
The Byschop Synclar agayn fled to But; With that fals King he had no will to mut a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1284.
Thy freind … with thé he wil nocht gang ane fute, Befoir this King for thé to count or mute 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 110.
Ilke soyter of baron in the schiref-court may there, for his lord, mute and answere without impediment 1643 Baillie II. 91.
Mr. Harie Guthrie made no dinne. His letter was a wand above his head to discipline him if he should mute 1654 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 668.
Of a long time no man in the whole isle did mute

3. a. intr. and impers. To take a matter to court, to take legal action, to litigate. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 7 (B).
Gyfe a burges be appelyt of ony playnte he sal nocht mote vtouth burgh 14.. Acts I. 23/2. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 92.
In alssmekil as pertenis to the warand it may tharof be mot Ib. c. 107.
Quhen ony man agaynis other than the King mutis of purprisyng or of purprestur or agayn his lorde & nocht be ane assise … it salbe distrenȝeit c1500 Barounis Lawis 10.
In the court of robory ilk fremane may gif and ȝeild dome on quhat party mutand that him likis

b. tr. To bring (an action) to court; also, to bring (action) against (certain persons).Also ? to advance, argue or debate (a plea), and ? to try (an action). c1420 Wynt. ii. 244.
Before jugys ordanyt he Be plede causys mot to be 14.. Acts I. 22/2.
Mutis that rysis in burgh … sall be mote & endyt [L. implacitari et terminari] in the court 1535 Stewart 1371.
And thair wes ordand for to execute Justice and law and pleyis for to mute 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 240.
Mr. Hercules Rollok … hes mutit actioun before the lords aganis Hew Broun [etc.]

c. tr. To take (a person) to court, bring an action against, pursue (him). 14.. Acts I. 356/1.
That nane of thame [burgesses] be mot without the ȝettis of thair toune of na maner of mute outtakin the mutis of all termys Ib. 389/2. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 107.
Quha sa has his lord occupyit in this maner be a bref of rycht he sal mut hym 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 106 b.
Quha sa mutes any partie in court to the third day