Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†MELVIE, v., adj. Also melvy; misprinted melrie in Book of Galloway (1882) 20.
I. v. To coat with a film of meal or flour, as a miller's clothes (Sc. 1808 Jam.). See also meal-melvied s.v. Meal, n. Vbl.n. melvyin, a covering or powdering of meal.Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair xxv.:
Sma' need has he to say a grace, Or melvie his braw claithing!s.Sc. 1839 Wilson's Tales of the Borders X. 254:
Only look at my back, and think hoo sic a melvyin wad suit on your fine black coat.
II. adj. Coated or soiled with meal (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).
[Voiced form of *melwie < melw-, stem of O.E. melu, meal. Cf. — Ie, suff., D.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Melvie v., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 21 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/melvie>
