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.
MASS, n. Also maus-, maws-. 1. Sc. usage: pride, self-importance, haughtiness (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
Hence massie, -y, bumptious, conceited, full of self-importance, proud (Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1954 Hawick News (18 June) 7; em.Sc.(a), wm. and s.Sc. 1962).Edb. 1735 W. Mitchell Letter to Sir J. de Graham 23:
My old massy Minister often told me, that it was as impossible for a meer Puppit to become a new Creature.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xiv.:
I can play wi' the broadsword as weel as Corporal Inglis there. I hae broken his head or now, for as massy as he's riding ahint us.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xv.:
He [dog] wadna gang away before me as he used to do, cocking his tail sae massy like.Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 91:
Duncan . . . was sune layin' off aboot his belangings, and got very massy.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 15:
Never devaaldin ti crack prood an massy aboot its bonnie bits an its history.Bwk. 1947:
When I brought in specimens of wildflowers to draw, my landlady in Greenlaw used to say “Ye're rale massy wi' yer flooers”.
2. As in Eng., bulk, thickness. Adj. mausey, mawsie, of a garment: warm, thick, substantial, comfortable (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 112; Abd.4 1931).Bnff. 1880 Jam.:
That's a gran', mawsie gown ye've got.Lnk. 1884 J. Nicholson Willie Waugh 58:
A mausey satin gown.
