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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡MASHIE, n. [′mɑʃi]

1. An iron golf club introduced c.1880 and used for approach shots, having a straight sole and face with the face at a medium angle to the shaft.Fif. 1886 R. Forgan & Son Retail Price List:
Iron Putters, 5s 6d Mashies, 5s 6d.Sc. 1888 J. H. Taylor Golf (1943) 59:
He produced a sample club that he had just received from Anderson of Anstruther, saying: “Here, Harry, is a new type of club sent me, which they call a “mashie”, something between an iron and a niblick.”em.Sc. 1920 J. Black Airtin' Hame 61:
Syne he'll play wi' cleek and mashie Until his pairtner's het.Sc. 1951 Scotsman (22 May):
We do not know how the stymie got its name, but it seems a pity that it must join the niblick, the mashie, and the cleek in limbo.Sc. 1955 R. Browning Hist. Golf 83:
The use of the niblick — which became the later “mashie” or No. 5 iron — for approach shots.Hebr 1998 Peter MacNab Tobermory Teuchter 94:
Iron clubs cost from 7/6 (37 ½p) upwards, woods slightly more. There were none of your impersonal numbers! From driver downwards we had brassie, spoon, baffy, then driving iron, mid iron, cleek, mashie, niblick and putter. With no limits to the number of clubs, you could add Number 2 and 3 mashies, mashie-iron, mashie-niblick and a sand iron like a navvy's spade.

2. Extended usage: the steel part of a flint and steel (Fif.¹⁷ 1952).