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: 1450-1605, 1662
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Mahoun. Also: Mah(o)une, -o(w)n(e, -ound. [Early ME. Mahum, -un (Layamon), ME. and e.m.E. Mahoun, -owne, -on(e, -ount (14th c., OED.), -ound(e, -ownde (15–16th c.), OF. Mahom, -um, -un, shortened f. Mahomet Ma(c)homete.]
1. Mohammed.Prob., as in ME. and OF., also conceived of as a false god, pagan idol or devil worshipped by Saracens or heathens. c1450-2 Howlat 497.
Thar with on Mahownis [B. Mahonis] men manly he [Douglas] mellit c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1515.
His curage fell he wariit gret Mahune a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 850.
Gif Mahoun or Termagant may mantene my [sc. the Saracen's] micht a1500 Ib. 888, 938. a1568 Gyre-carling 27.
That devillisch deme [who] wes with Mahoun mareit 15.. Clariodus iii. 347.
This false heard of Mahoundis [: soundis]
2. As a name for the Devil. c1515 Asloan MS I. 214/13.
Common in Dunbar's poems. He [Henry V of England] endit his lyf awfully & offerit ane mort to Mahovne c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 6.
Me thocht, amangis the feyndis fell, Mahoun gart cry ane dance c1500-c1512 Id. xxvii. 106.
Befoir Mahoun, the air of hell c1500-c1512 Id. Flyt. 233, c1500-c1512 Tua Mar. W. 101, xxxiv. 29, xxxv. 32, etc. 1535 Stewart 36696.
Thir revand rukis, memberis of Mahoun 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4302. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4360.
O wickit wife, Mahoun thy hart hes mufit To do sic thing 1560 Ib. 3518. a1568 Bannatyne MS 29 b/20. a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxxiv. 60. 1570 Satirical Poems xxviii. 159. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 428 (H).
Receiv this howlett … In name of Mahoune a1605 Ib. 483 (T). 1662 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXII. 234.]
[Immediately after your renunciation of your baptism he [Satan] gave you a new name calling you Kathrine Mahoun and Sathan's name was David Mahoun
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"Mahoun n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mahoun>
