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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MICHAELMAS, n. Also -mass, and Sh. form mikklismas. [‡′mɪçəlməs] In †combs.: 1. Michaelmas bread, a bread traditionally baked in the Outer Hebrides on Michaelmas Day. See A. Carmichael Carmina Gadelica III. 139; 2. Michaelmas Head-Court, see Heid, II. Combs. (4); 3. Michaelmas Laird, see quot. and 4. below; applied sarcastically to those retiring Council members who tried to control elections; 4. Michaelmas mare, a magistrate who is not re-elected to his office at the next election. It was about Michaelmas that under the pre-Reform system the old council nominated the magistrates for the subsequent term of office. For this usage of mare, cf. the use of similar Yaud; 5. Michaelmas moon, (1) the harvest moon; (2) the booty from the plundering raids made in the Highlands and on the borders at this season because of the brightness of the moon; 6. Michaelmas ram, a ram at the period of Michaelmas when the mating season takes place.1. Hebr. 1956 Abd. Press & Jnl. (1 Oct.):
Some local women and girls came to waulk tweed at a long trestle table in the kitchen. Their songs at work were not eulogies on the Saint, but the refreshment for them and for us who watched included a home-made bread, which was called Michaelmas Bread, and was baked only on September 29.3. Slg. 1731 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) IV. 226:
The Magistrates and toun are for a third Minister. . . . The Ministers are not for this . . . and Mr Muir gave the Magistrates of Stirling hard words, and called them “Michaelmass Lairds”.4. Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost iv.:
I would let him again be dean of guild, even though he should be called a Michaelmas mare, for it did not so well suit him to be a bailie as to be dean of guild.wm.Sc. 1906 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 2) VII. 174:
In a town in the west of Scotland the provost whom his fellow-townsmen do not deem worthy of a second term of office is termed a “Michaelmas mare”.5. (1) Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 344:
The Michaelmas Moon rises ay alike soon. The Moon, at Full, being then in the opposite Sign, bends for some Days towards the Tropick of Cancer, and so rising more Northerly, rises more early. My Country People believe it to be a particular Providence of God that People may see to get in their Grain.(2) Nai. 1771 T. Pennant Tour 1769 134:
Till the year 1745, the Highlanders made their inroads, and drove away the cattle of their defenceless neighbors. There are said to exist some very old marriage articles of the daughter of a chieftain, in which the father promises for her portion 200 Scots marks, and the half of a Michaelmas Moon, i.e. half the plunder, when the nights grew dark enough to make their excursions.Slk. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ II. 437:
There is a circumstance in their contract of marriage, that merits attention, as it strongly marks the predatory spirit of the times. The father-in-law agrees to keep his daughter for some time after the marriage, for which the son-in-law binds himself to give him the profits of the first Michaelmas moon.Per. 1835 J. Monteath Dunblane Trad. 15:
Parties of Highland harryers, who had descended from the hills during the “Michaelmas moons” . . . to plunder those Lowlanders.6. Sh. 1897 Shetland News (2 Oct.):
Wisna dat da Lammas lambs, da Mikklismas rams, da Hallo'mas hogs, an' da Yule yows?