A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
*Half-mes, -maise, -mease, n. [Mes n. dish, course, serving, of food.] a. A half portion of a regular serving or allowance of food. b. A smaller size of plate or dish, suitable for smaller servings: cf. also quarter-mease. —a c1575 Balfour Pract. 616.
Sic kitching as use of the ship is viz. twa of the marineris may beir to schoar ane mes or ane half times of meit that is cauld 1622-6 Bisset II. 257/3.
Half measeb 1552 Old Dundee II. 241.
[Heirship gear:] Ane chargeour and ane breid dish; Item, ane haill maise and ane half maise; Item, ane luggit dish [etc.] 1567 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. App. 314.
The airship gudis efter following. .ane plait, ane half mes, ane salser, ane trinschour
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"Half-mes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 26 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/half_mes>
