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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.

Midsum(m)er, -som(m)er, -sim(m)er, Missumere, Missom(m)er, n. Also: midd-, myd- and -summir, -yr, -swmyr, -somir, -ar, -ere; -soumer, -sym(m)er, -ar, -yr; midssomerre, med-sommer, mitsomer, met-summer; myssum(m)er(e, myssomer, -yr. [ME. midsomer (13th c.), mydsomer, missomer (1297), myssome (14th c.), OE. midsumor.]

1. Midsummer.In Scotland applied chiefly or only to Midsummer Day, St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24th, which was also sometimes used as a term day.(a) 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
That yhe gerre quit owre obligacion … be myd somer c1420 Wynt. vii. 367.
Before mydswmyr [C. myssomer] the fyft day 1432 Soc. Ant. II. 388.
To pay the said soum be the next fest of mydsoumer 1489 Acta Conc. I. 101/2. 1500 Buccleuch Mun. II. 102. 1503 Acts II. 248/2.
That … the chekker begin eftir mydsummyr 1522 Perth Hammermen 19.
To the men that geid with the prowest at midsomer 1534 Crosraguel Chart. I. 97. 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 188. 1562–3 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 331/1. 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 506.
Fra Fastrenis evin quhill midsomer 1585 Prot. Bk. J. Mason 236. 1586 Nisbet I. ix.
I resaueit this buke … at med sommer quhilk wes the euell summer that [etc.] 1591 St. A. B. Ct. 29 Mar.
Metsummer 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 106.
At mitsomer nixtocum 1632 Prognostication.
Sainct John's day, beeing mid-sommer, [a fair] in Sainct Johnstone 1649 Cupar Presb. 136. a1699 Skene Agric. MS.
At Carnwath at Midsommer on the 24 day of Jun is gud to buy lambs 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 274.
The tuentie fourt day of June nixt callit Midsumer 1670 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 275.
At Midssomerre 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 172.
At Middsomar(b) 1486 Stirlings of Keir 256.
For ane braide arowe at Mydsymyr 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 355.
For a reid rose at Mydsimmer 1539 Chart. Coupar A. II. 146.
At twa termes in the ȝeir vidz mydsymmar and ȝoule 1550 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone (S.R.S.) 100.
Mydsymmyr 1558-66 Knox II. 337.
The Assemblye of the Kyrk at Mydsymmer … approached 1562 Douglas Chart. 253.
Before the said terme of midsymmer 1571 Grant Chart. 143.
The feist of Sanct Jhone the Baptist, callit Midsymmer 1573–74 Inverness Rec. I. 232.
Betuix the day … heirof and Sant Duthois day at Mydsymmer 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 90.
At Midsymmer was a yeir or thairby 1609 Inverurie 193.
Ane threid at Midsymer, ane threid at Lames [etc.](c) 1398 Fœdera VII. 54.
Befor the fest of Myssomyr last past 1477 Maxwell Mem. I. 187.
The fest of Sanc John the Baptist callyt Myssummer 1498 Acta Conc. II. 162, 196.

b. Attrib. in Midsummer day, evin (= St. John's Eve, June 23rd), fair, etc.(1) c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 336.
The day was sett … on Mid-summer day that was to cum ane ȝeir eftir c1515 Asl. MS. I. 216/20.
On mydsomere day in Sanct Jhonston 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 79.
The xxiiij day of Junij … on Mydsomir day 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 116.(b) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 251.
On midsimer-day … was sa schill frost that [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II. 160/2.(c) 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 216.
Assignet … viij dais eftir myssomer day 1533 Wigtown B. Ct. 277 a.
One Soundaye eftir myssvmere daye(2) 1496 Acta Conc. II. 38.
Slane on Mydsummer evin that last was 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 61.
The xxiij day of Junij, Mydsomir evin, to the Kingis offerand to Sanct Johnis lycht c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. i.
Apon the Midsumer ewin, mirriest of nichtis 1550–51 Perth Guildry 276 (6 March).
The dene of gild hes assignit mydsomer evin nixt tocum to Robert Duff to preif[etc.] 1558 Treas. Acc. X. 365.
For bigging of ane bane fire … upoun midsomer evin 1558-66 Knox II. 72. 1577 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 22 b.
To forbeir superstitious dayis sic as Mydsomer avin, Peteravin and vtheres dayis 1581–2 Elgin Rec. I. 165.
To big … fyris … on Sanct Johne or Sanct Peteris ewin, mydsymer, ruid or Sanct Nicolas ewin or day 1608 Aberd. Kirk S. 61. 1625 McPherson Prim. Beliefs 15. 1648 Banks Sc. Cal. Customs III. 173.(3) 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. i.
Haifand ado to ga to the toun of Air to Midsomer fair to by woll 1662 Dumbarton B. Rec. 81.
The race saidle [etc.] … run for at last midsummer fair(4) 1591 Elgin Rec. II. 17.
Euerie persoun that biggis and makis ony … midsommer and peter fyiris Ib. 18, 19.
Missom(m)er 1602 Ib. 105. 1649 Old Machar Kirk S. in Banks Sc. Cal. Customs III. 27. 1650 Rothiemay Kirk S. in J. Gordon's Hist. I. App. lvi.(5) 1519 Perth Hammermen 5.
Ressavit … with the broddis in tymes of Midsomer and Andersmes markatts(6) 1547 Reg. Privy C. I. 80.
The saidis prelattis … hes instantlie avansit … the rest of the last Midsomer terme awand be thaim 1577 Stewart Mem. 106.
Compleit payment of the malis … intromettit with … for the said midsymmer terme nixtocum(7) 1375 Barb. x. 821 (C).
Gif at mydsummer tyme ane ȝeir To cum, it [the castle] war nocht … Reskewit