Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MAITHE, n., v. Also maeth(e); methe, meith; maid, made. [me:ð; Sh. med]
I. n. 1. A maggot (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., maid; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 111; Kcd. 1880 Jam.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.), the egg or grub of the bluebottle or other similar insect (ne.Sc. 1925; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; I., n.Sc., Ags. 1962). Hence maidie, adj., infested with maggots.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 336:
Mades — The larvae, or seed of mawks, maggots; as laid by the blue douped mawking flee, or maggot fly, on humph'd or putrid flesh.Sh. 1926–8 J. Gray Lowrie on Eddication in Shetland Times:
Soor-fish maks wir stammicks laek a maidie piltock.
2. A parasite of the Branchiura order which attaches itself to the gills of salmon, a salmon-louse.s.Sc. 1831 Quarterly Jnl. Agric. III. 442:
By the time the salmon have been a fortnight in the fresh-water, the methe, or fresh-water louse, begins to appear on their gills.
3. A moth; the grub of a moth. This meaning is somewhat doubtful and phs. due to confusion with Eng. moth.Slk. 1807 Hogg Mountain Bard (1874) 93:
Sindry methes an' maels war on it; It had lien lang idle by.s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell St Matthew vi. 19:
Layna up for yoursels thesauers upon yirth, whare maethe an' ruost deth corrup.
II. v. To become infested with maggots (Kcd. 1880 Jam.; Abd. 1962).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 111:
The beef's a' beginnin' t' maithe.
