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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.

Mask, n.¹ Also: maske, masck. [Sc. form corresp. to ME. massh(e, masch, e.m.E. mash, OE. másc-, máx-: cf. Swed. dial. mask, Sw. mäsk, Dan. mask, grains for pigs, draff.]

1. That quantity of malt which can be mashed (see Mask v.) at one time, a single mashing of malt. 1509–10 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. 85 b.
In brasina pro lie burn & candelis ad sedecim lie maskis x s. iiij d. 1531 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 23 Feb.
Wyll Cruikshanks wyf grantit a mask of malt grownd fra the myll 1542 Rentale S. Andree 155.
[Multure of 39] maskis [of malt, 39s.] 1543–4 Ib. 201. 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 1.
Ane mask of grund malt contenand vi firlottis malt … price vi li. 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii. 35.
Ane mask of malt 1577 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 26 Mar.
The said mullar sall … haif of ilk mask of malt grund … ane dische full of malt for his bannok 1579 Inverness Rec. I. 269.
Scho … promest him ane quart aill for euerilk mask scho brewit wyth the said fatt 1588 Edinb. Test. XIX. 10.
Tua maskis of malt contening ten furlettis malt 1593 Ib. XXV. 89.
In the kill aucht maskis maid malt price of the mask extending to fyve firlets the mask v li. 1591–3 Sc. N. & Q. IX. 117. 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 278. ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 78.
The said stewart … usit to tak ane mask of malt thair [sc. Hirta] with ane maskein fat and mask his malt 1605 Glasgow Chart. I. dcxvii. 1627 Linlithgow B. Rec. 4 May.
Onlie sewin firlottis at the most to be grund for any mask 1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 320. 1659 Ib. 411.
Masck 1665 Glasgow Trades House 404. 1678 Glasgow Merchants House 137. 1698 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 262.

2. A quantity of malt or draff cooked in water, given to a horse or other animal as a warm meal.(1) 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. iii.
For maskis of malt to the said hors 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 64.
For ane mask to ane seik hors vi s. viii d. 1663–6 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp 49 b.
For corne hay and a mask to the meare [18s.] 1676 Cunningham Diary 70. 1703 Foulis Acc. Bk. 319.
For 2 peck of malt to be a mask to the 2 ryding horses(2) 1523 Old Dundee II. 383.
Anent the claim of twenty-six masks of draff bygane and all the masks till mid lentrone next to come for sixteen pence the mask 1571–2 Crail B. Ct. 8 Jan.
Ow[k]ly ane mask of draffe 1574–5 Elgin Rec. I. 150. 1602 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 417.
For the price of xxx maskis of draff 1681 Ib. MS. 24 May.
To pay … thrie shilling scots for ilk mask of eightine masks of draff allreadie receaved be him for the mantinance of his naigs

3. A brew or infusion of any kind. 1666 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II. 540.
For my lady Kent powder [£54]. Mair for hir ane mask lymon and harthorne to the powder [£3. 18s.]