Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MOTH, adj. Also mothy. Close and damp, misty and oppressive (Lth. 1808 Jam.). Most freq. in deriv. mothie, -y (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk. 1963); unaired, fusty. Hence mothiness.Rs. 1714 W. MacGill Old Ross (1911) 91:
Considering that the toune's Charter Chist doe ly . . . in a Dunk motlie [sic] roume.Bnff. 1717 W. Cramond Grange (1895) 14:
The session books were getting destroyed owing to the “mothiness” of his room.