Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MYSLIN, n. Also †miceland, -ling, misline, meslin. A poor quality coal (Edb.⁶ 1942), variously described as a band of coal at the top of a seam which cannot be separated from the roof and is therefore left unworked or as a band of coal between two bands of stone. Also attrib. [′məislɪn, ′mes-]m.Lth. 1762 Session Papers, Drummond v. Ferrier (22 Jan.) 35:
They had on the Top of them the Miceland Coal and Boydstone.m.Lth. 1770 Session Papers, State of Process Henry v. Clerk 89:
The Boydstone immediately lying above the coal, nor the miceling seam of coal lying above that.Fif. 1964 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 397:
The “Meslin Stane ”, an oil-impregnated stratum [of coal] which ignites if subjected to pressure when oxygen is available.