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.
Quotation dates: 1822-1870
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MESS, n. Sc. form of Eng. mass, the Eucharistic service (Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads (1875) II. 79; Sc. a.1830 Earl of Errol in Child Ballads No. 231. A. viii.).
Sc. usages:
1. Comb. mess-book, a mass-book, a missal, used in quot. of the Anglican prayer-book.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel vii.:
Sic prayers as the Southron read out of their auld blethern black mess-book there.
2. Sunday, in weather rhyme only. See quot.Sc. 1870 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 373:
If there's rain in the Mass, 'T will rain through the week either mair or less.
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"Mess n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/mess_n>
