Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mach, Match, v. Also: ma(t)che. P.t. also macchit. [ME. (14th c.) mach(e, macche, (15th c.) match(e, f. Mach,n.¹]

1. passive. To be placed in companionship or partnership with another; also, to be married.Also refl., to enter into companionship or partnership. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2917 (Bass.).
To thé wer better beir the stane barrow … Than to be machit [H. matchit] with ane wickit marrow Ib. 2933. Ib. 2925.
To mache [H. matche] thé with ane … fenȝeit marrow 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. vi. 18.
Since … on earth machles we liue alone, … sueit loue, we sould be mach'd in one

2. To be associated or set together with another or others, a. in company, at table, b. in authority, as a colleague or equal.a. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1159.
Quhen thai war machit at mete, the mare and the myn a1500 Rauf C. 184.b. 1533 Bell. Livy II. 60/25.
To haue the mare indignatioun … that sic seditious men war machit with thame in authorite

3. To be placed in encounter with, to be opposed (by). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 512.
And thai with men vpone mold be machit full evin a1500 Colk. Sow i. 413.
Be than wes machit on mold Als mony as they wold Ib. 204. 1513 Doug. x. xiv. 147.
He … was matchit that tyme … With hys fa man in bargane inequale Ib. xii. vi. 81.
The formast twa he slew machit at hand, And this Polus as he far of dyd stand 15.. Clar. ii. 1156.
Never more … Was I so machit with no manis force c1475 Wall. (1570) ix. 940.

b. intr. To meet in combat, to fight (with or agayn the adversary, or togidder); also, to engage in fighting, to come to blows.(1) a1500 Rauf C. 442.
I haue na myster to matche with maisterfull men a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 753.
Quhen thai myghty can mach on mold quhair thai met c1475 Wall. v. 42.
Quhen xl macht [1570. matchit] agayne thre hundyr men 1513 Doug. viii. xii. 39.
As thai togiddir matchyt on the depe Ib. ix. ii. 53, xii. 38, xii. iii. 80, v. 30. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 50. a1578 Pitsc. I. 236/13. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 676.
I forbaid thé To mache with me, or elis thow sall deir by it(2) 1513 Doug. v. vii. 94.
With thir [sc. weapons] was I wont mach [Sm. mache] in the melle 1535 Stewart 32215.
[They] macchit hes als airlie as tha mocht

c. tr. To meet in combat, to encounter, to fight against. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 540.
Forthi makis furth ane man to mach hym in feild Ib. 817. c1475 Wall. ix. 220.
My selff trowit till [haiff] machit mony ane 1513 Doug. x. xii. 72. Ib. xi. x. 38.

d. passive. To be provided with an adversary. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1749.
Quha wald cum thair to tornay or justing … At the set day to be matchit suld not faill

4. tr. To be the ‘match’ of, to rival, equal. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 23.
Scho matchit, or rather far surmountit, all credite of the constancie of ony in former tymes a1605 Montg. Sonn. lxvii. 10.