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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.

March, v.³ Also: marche, martch(e; merch(e, mertch; mairch(e, mairsch; mearch. [e.m.E. march (1585), mersh (a 1548), F. marcher.] intr. To march; to proceed on foot with a regular, measured tread; to walk in step. a. Said of persons etc. walking or travelling in company. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 416 (B).
We salbe heir, man, or midnicht, Thocht we merche with the mone 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 332.
Becaus … that ȝe … tuik Pryde, And thocht that we suld not marche ȝow besyde 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. x.
Thair wes the … cunning and the con … merchen amangs the rest

b. Said of parties of troops, also of their com manders. Also, to march forward, furth, and, of two armies meeting, togither. Also reflex.(1) 1558-66 Knox II. 354.
The erle assembled his folk … [and] martched forward towardis Abirdene Ib. 356.
The few nomber that war marching upoun foote in ordour 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 175.
Heis vp ȝour hartis, And fordwarts marche a1578 Pitsc. I. 198/29. Ib. II. 96/34.
Than one the vthir pairt Harie marchit fast fordward 1570 Leslie 94.
The Inglis men quha … marcheand about diverse hills and straittis, passit betuix the king and Scotland c1590 J. Stewart II. 11/9.
Martche. mychtie Mars, … Vith clincking sourd 1646 Old Ross-shire II. 14.
I intreat you martch night and day in their reir(b) 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. i. 82.
Makand ane onsett, merchant furth in ordour 1570 Leslie 197.
The Governour [etc.] … merched foirduart with gret furie, almoste furth of ordoure a1578 Pitsc. I. 119/25. c1590 Fowler I. 183/3.
With speide I merche, with als muche I reteire c 1620 Sutherland Corr. 359. 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 75.
Having merched the lenth of Turreff in persuit of the enemies c1650 Spalding I. 271.(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 247/13.
Thir tuo airmeis mairchit togither c1615 Chron. Kings 113.
On the morne thay … mairschitt to Mwssilbrughe 1626 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. 301. c1650 Spalding II. 357.(d) a1578 Pitsc. I. 270/23.
The Inglische men war all come ower the brige and the wandgaird was neir mearchant togither(2) a1578 Pitsc. II. 37/18.
reflex. He passit haistallie fordwart to the Inglischemen quho was marchant thame fast to Jedburght

c. Said of persons walking in procession. 1606 Balfour Her. Tracts 66.
Immediatly after them the earles rankit as said is tua and tua and the leatest creatione to marche formost

d. Used also (? erron.) of a single mounted knight. c1590 J. Stewart II. 67/78.
This knycht … Amongs the rout mertchant from place to place