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.
MASCHLE, n., v., adj., adv. Also meeschle and reduplic. form meeschle-maschle (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 112–3). [mɑʃl]
I. n. A mixture; a confusion, a muddle, a mix up; a mess (Bnff., Abd. 1962).Gregor:
Sic a maschle 's a' thing's in . . . They've made an unco meeschle o' that maitter.
II. v. To mix; to crumble into a mixture; to throw into confusion, to allow things to become confused; with up: to mix up, confuse, make a muddle of (of business matters); in pass.: to be inbred, to be closely connected by intermarriage.Ib.:
They're a' maschlet up thegither in that place . . . It wiz a' meeschlet up thegither.
III. adj. Confused, in a state of muddle; inbred, closely related through intermarriage.Ib.:
Their money maitters are a' meeschle-maschle. . . . The hail toonie's a' meeschle-maschle freens through ither.
IV. adv. In a state of confusion.Ib.:
The hail thing geed meeschle thegeether.
