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.
METTLE, n., adj. Also mettal. Sc. usages:
I. n. Phr. to tak mettle, to pluck up one's courage.Lnk. 1844 J. Lemon St. Mungo 23:
At last I took mettle, an' offer'd her battle.
II. adj. Spirited, mettlesome, game, full of vitality, lively, active (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Abd., m. and s.Sc. 1962). Arch. in Eng.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 239:
The daughter is a fine mettal-like lassie, and might have made a shift both for her mother and herself, had she been bred not to think it dishonourable.Sc. c.1770 Herd's MSS. (Hecht 1904) 181:
She has a tongue intill her head to gie a mettle answer.Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 23:
A sonsy mettle hizzy.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck iii.:
I followed, and was mettler o' foot than he.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Letter xi.:
That's a mettle beast of yours, freend; will you sell him?Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 21:
Ye're nae a beggar's brat, I'll gie my aith An' mair, I see ye're mettle to the teeth.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xx.:
'Od he was a mettle bodie of a creature — far north, Aberdeen-awa like, and looking at two sides of a half-penny.Rnf. 1861 J. Barr Poems 49:
Your chiels use mettle heels, When gaun to see their dearie.Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxiii.:
He is an honest and a mettle gentleman.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xxxiii.:
Ye'll ken Laird Heron o' the Rathan, Jen — a mettle spark.
