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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MISTAK, v., n. Also mistack(e) (Ork. 1715 H. Marwick Merchant Lairds (1936) I. 56; Gsw. 1863 J. Young Ingle Nook 74). Sc. forms of Eng. mistake (Ayr. 1786 Burns To W. Chalmers' Sweetheart iii.; Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 26; Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xiii., Per. 1896 I. Maclaren Kate Carnegie 245). Gen.(exc. em.Sc.(b) and s.)Sc.

I. v. A. For forms see Tak. Deriv. misteen, Sc. form of Eng. mistook, mistaken.Ayr. 1988:
A mistaen it for a dug, but it's a catne.Sc. 1996 W. Gordon McPherson in Sandy Stronach New Wirds: An Anthology of Winning Poems and Stories from the Doric Writing Competitions of 1994 and 1995 20:
"Ye'll be tellin mi, tho', ye made the jeely? Aa maan say Aa nivver tried better-brammle an a bit a aipple in't, nor Aa'm sair misteen?" 

B. Sc. usages: 1. To do wrong, to transgress (Ork., Ags. 1963). Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel iv.:
I think the knave mistook more out of conceit than of purpose.

2. In pass. with wi(th): to be overcome by, under the evil influence of. Ppl.adj. mistaen.Gall. 1701 Session Bk. Penninghame (1933) I. 67:
There being a report that Marion M'Millan . . . was lately mistaken with drink.Rxb. 1724 J. J. Vernon Hawick 176:
The said John at first refused that he was in Drink but afterwards confessed (as he expressed it) he was mistaken with Drink.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 81:
But I was ne'er sae sair mista'en; For I cou'd aye staun up my lane.

3. refl. To make a mistake, go wrong. Mostly in prohibitions. Gen.Sc.Slk. 1836 Hogg Tales II. 271:
Sometimes the deil mistakes himsel'.Edb. 1872 J. Smith Habbie & Madge 64:
Wha tell't me? Dinna mistake yersel. A bird whistled it.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 153:
Dinna mistak' yersel', Momus; the white an' barley o' Moray are as heavy an' gweed as ony in Scotlan'.Ags. 1899 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy 52:
“Dinna mistak yersel',” says Bandy in laich.Abd. 1963:
I mistook mysel and landit at the ither eyn o the toun. Ye canna mistak yoursel if ye haud straicht on till ye come tae the crossroads.

4. Phr. to mistak a fit, to lose one's footing, to take a wrong step, to fall or stumble (Sh. 1963).Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 25:
[She] mistook a fit for a' her care, An' wi' a haiches fell.

5. Ppl.adj. mistaen, of a remark: taken amiss, understood wrongly in a sense which offends (I., n. and em.Sc., Kcb. 1963).

II. n. 1. In phrs.: (1) in a mistak(e), i' the mistak, adj., mistaken, labouring under a misapprehension; adv., in error, by mistake. Gen.Sc.; (2) nae mistak but, without doubt, certainly. Gen.Sc.(1) Sc. 1728 Six Saints (Fleming 1901) I. 174:
If it had been so that I had been in a mistake, I own I would not have risen.Fif. 1757 Session Papers, Process Black v. Veatch 37:
Seeing his [cockerel] was killed in a Mistake he would take that one for it.Per. 1834 P. R. Drummond Bygone Days (1879) 237:
Ye're in a mistak.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 65:
Gif I'm no i' the mistak, she was ane o' the leddies o' Ethie.Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers II. 17:
Never was I in a greater mistak' in a' my life.(2) Per. 1899 C. M. Stuart Sabbath Nights 7:
Nae mistak but they should keep to Bible ways.

2. An accident (Ags.¹⁸ 1907, Ags. 1963).

3. Euphemistically of a breach of chastity by a woman (I.Sc., Abd., Ags., Kcb., Uls. 1963). Cf. Misfortune.Abd. 1963:
The peer lassie was pitten awa frae hame for makin a mistak.