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.
MUSLIN, n. Also Sc. forms muzzlin (Rs. 1718 W. MacGill Old Ross-shire (1909) 146); mussline (Edb. 1788 School Bill); museling (Sc. 1705 Seafield Letters (S.H.S.) 57); mislin. Sc. usages:
1. In combs., in which the thin unsubstantial quality of the material is stressed in fig. contexts: (1) muslin brose, Brose made with oatmeal and water only without the addition of any richer ingredients; (2) muslin kail, a thin weak broth made from barley and vegetables without any meat stock (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems Gl.; Slg. 1862 D. Taylor Poems 97; Slk.1 1929); (3) muslin mou, a prim, refined mouth. Also used attrib.(1) e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-Head 6:
Muslin brose, lee-dyke sides, seybies, and a deathless name for ever!(2) Ayr. 1786 Burns To J. Smith xxiv.:
I'll sit down o'er my scanty meal, Be't water-brose, or muslin-kail.Lnk. 1816 G. Muir Cld. Minstrelsy 72:
Whare now was a' his muslin' kail An' oil of slae, baith seem'd to fail.wm.Sc. 1842 Whistle-Binkie (Ser. 2) 80:
Mony a time my stomach thocht my wizen was sneckit during that time — for what wi' gauze parritch, and muslin kail.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 246:
Penny-wheep's gude enough for muslin-kail.Fif. 1886 A. Stewart Dunfermline 136:
Working for a poor wage on a diet of “muslin kail” without “kitchen.”Bnff. 1887 W. Philip Covedale x.:
Slave wi their noses i the yird for a sup muslin kale or a cloot o brose.(3) Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 148:
With barbers or bakers they might be buckled, because of their muslin-mouth and pinch-beck speeches.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 241:
Jean was really a right ramstam ane. Nane o' your linen cheeks, an' muslin mou's, that sighs an' sickens owre a fu' heart.
2. A fine, delicately woven, linen fabric, as opposed to the cotton fabric referred to in Eng. usage.Sc. 1700 Letters to an M.P. occasioned by Poverty of the Nation:
We also do make already a very good muslin of our own produce.Sc. 1705 J. Spruel Accompt Current 7:
All East India Musline and Caligo's . . . be Discharged to be Imported, or Worn, excepting what is in Hand already: And that none of our Linen Yarn be Exported, but the fine Yarn imployed and applyed to make fine Muslines, Camericks, and Holland Cloth to serve our selves at Home.Rnf. 1790 Caldwell Papers (M.C.) II. 163:
I remember in the year 1730 or 1731 of a ball, when it was agreed that the company should be dressed in nothing but what was manufactured in the county; my sisters were as well dressed as any, and their gowns were stripped linen at 2s. 6d. a yard, their head-dresses and ruffles were of Paisley muslins at 4s. 6d. with fourpenny edging from Hamilton, all the best that could be had.
