Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

MESSAGATE, n. Also messigate (Marw.); messie-gate. A path leading through cornfields, originally the path to the church (Ork. 1825 Jam., 1929 Marw., Ork. 1962), but extended in 1912 quot. to apply to any grassy path through arable land.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 31:
Thu wad like tae hae a gate tae heavin, as the laird of Rinacleat wanted tae hae the messagate ony wey that plaesed himsel.Ork. c.1912 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 7:
There were frequent strips of pasture, called Messie-gates, every here and there, on which the milking cattle were tethered.