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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.

Mischev(e, Mischeif(f, v. Also: mys- and -cheve, -chewe, -cheiv(e, -chieve, -chiwe, -cheif(e. P.t. and p.p. mischevit, -cheif(f)it, etc.; mis-, myscheifd. [ME.(c 1330) and e.m.E. mischeve, -cheeve, myscheve, -chewe, mischieve, north. e.m.E. mis-, myschef(e (1483), e.m.E. myschyffe (a 1470), mischief(e (16th c.), OF. meschever to be unfortunate, come to grief.Some of the e.m.E. forms in -f are perh. influenced by mischief (Mischef(e n.), which has possibly, though, in view of the normal Sc. usage of -f for final -v, not necessarily, also influenced some of the Sc. instances with -f.]

1. tr. To inflict harm or injury on, to harm or hurt, physically or otherwise; to do (one) a mischief, to wound, or to slay.In the Dunb. quot. (b below) perh. to be taken as Mischef(e n. 2.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 658 (Bann.).
Our lyfe is sett ilk nycht in avinture Our cursit craft full mony ane mischevis 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 20.
With a gret speir quharwith he feill myschevit 15.. Clar. i. 1258.
That man ȝe do murther and mischeve 1547 Elgin Rec. I. 91.
Sche hes … myschevit hir in the faice 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 722.
And doubtles they had thair mischevit him a1605 Montg. Son. lvii. 8.
Persaiv … the archer that, but mercy, me misch[eivis] Id. Misc. P. v. 7.
Melancholie mischeivis my mind That I can not rejose c1590 J. Stewart II. 89/342.
Crewall fortone … tuik delyt this chiftan till iniuir, His musing mynd mischiwing mair and mair 1692 Cromarty Corr. I. 87.
The bringing in any … that wer ill toolls in former goverments, and not sur to this bot to mischeiv it(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 5.
Exces of thocht dois me mischeif 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 33.
The fillok hyr deformyt fax wald haue a fair face To mak hir maikles of hir man at myster myscheif is [sic; Ruthven mischevis] 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 133.
Thay did him not mischeif As thay did his companȝeounis … With pynefull panis quhen thay thair pythis did preif 1603 Philotus xcii.
Vtherwayis I had mischeifit [v.r. mischieuit] thee 1622-6 Bisset II. 355/7.
The Jowes murmoure aganist thé, and go about to mischeif thé 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 70.
Whereby they get rest to mischeife the kirk

b. To suffer injury to (one's horse). — a1578 Pitsc. I. 405/28.
They come to ane place callit the Solloun mose … and thairin lairit and mischeiffit thair horse

c. In the passive: To receive harm, injury or loss; to be hurt, slain, or destroyed; to be brought to grief or destruction, worsted or ruined. c1475 Wall. viii. 248.
The flearis than with Erll Patrik relefd To fecht agayn quhar mony war myscheifd Ib. 968.
Wycht Arthour als … Twys thai fawcht, suppos thai war myschewit 1513 Doug. ii. x. 112.
And tho beheld I al the cite myschevit 1535 Stewart 20296.
Quhen tua houndis richt oft hes other preuit Into bergane quhill tha be baith mischeuit c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 76.
For with ane knife I was mischeuit Ib. 216. c1552 Id. Mon. 2425.
To that effect that he suld be myscheuit, Delyuerit hym tyll rampand lyonis sewin Ib. 4101. 15.. Christis Kirk 125 (Bann.).
He come hame with vnbirsd banis, Quhair fechtaris wer mischevit 15.. Clar. iv. 474.
Thir wyfes me … weill relevit Or ellis I had in povertie beine mischevit 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 220.
Thair Matchewell had bene mischevit

d. reflex. To do oneself a mischief, to take hurt at one's own hand or as a result of one's own actions. a1568 Scott iv. 103.
Bot ballatis ma to breif ȝow, I will nocht brek my brane Suppois ȝe sowld mischeif ȝow Id. xxx. 20.
Thay ma nowthir rest nor rufe Tillthay mischeif thair sellis c1578 Reid Swire 86.
Then Henrie Purdie proud hes cost And very narrowlie had mischeifd him

2. intr. To suffer hurt or misfortune, to come to grief, ‘miscarry’. a1500 K. Hart 495.
Len me thy cloke to gys me for ane quhyle, Want I that weid in fayth I will mischeif 15.. Christis Kirk 121 (Bann.).
Sum straik with stingis sum gaderit stanis Sum fled and evill mischevit