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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.

Marchandis(e, Merchandis(e, n. Also: -isse, -ys(se, -yse, -iz(e, -yis, -ice, -yce, -ese, -eis(e, -ece, -eice, -ace, mercheandis(e, -ice, merchiandys, -ice, merschandyce, maircheandice, mairtchandeis. [ME. mercandise, (1297), ME. (a 1300) and e.m.E. march-, mercha(u)ndis(e, F. marchandise (12th c.).]

1. The action, occupation or business of a merchant; commerce, traffic, trading, business.In translations of the ‘Auld Laws’, gild merchandise = trading or other activities reserved to members of the gild or in (staple) goods reserved to the gild.To do, exerce, hant, mak(e, occupy, use etc. (one's, the) merchandise, to engage in trading, to trade, to do (one's) business.To mak merchandice of (goods etc.), to traffic in, to sell.(1) 14.. Acts I. 336/2.
Thai vse gilde merchandise [L. vtuntur mercibus ad gildam pertinentibus] bathe bakand and brewand … and all vthir fredome at thai aucht nocht to do 14.. Burgh Laws c. 76 (A).(2) ?1438 Alex. ii. 9336.
Thare was na speich of mariage, Na marchandyce, at speiris streking, Bot rushit togidder c1420 Wynt. ii. 610.
To wyage In marchandys [C. -disse] or pilgrimage 1456 Hay II. 15/25. 1549 Compl. 106/5.
In marchandeis, in selling and bying hors and nolt and scheip, outfang and infang 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 332.
Marchandice 1589 Cal. Sc. P. X. 237.
Being in thair lefull traid of marchandese going to the Rotchell(b) c1420 Ratis R. 991.
Gyf thow be set to merchandis Quhat thing thow byis, se to the price 1462 Cal. Charters Suppl. 9 Nov.
As for merchiandys made or to be made be thai parischinaris of Adzel … with fremen … of Dunde 1467 Acts II. 86/2. 1484 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 50.
Gif ony merchand of this toun takis ony man of Leyth in company with him in his merchandice making a1500 Bk. Chess 1643.
To merchandys he put this gold [500 ducats] anone And xv thowsand with this gold he wan 1495 Acta Conc. I. 415/1. 1498 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 67.
Gif thai [craftsmen] occupy the merchandice 1500 Conv. Burghs I. 506. 1507 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 437. 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 324/2.
To cum within the realme … for the doing of thair leful merchandise 1515 Ib. 393/1.
Fra the day of the said Thomas departing in his merchandice furth of the realme 1542–3 Lanark B. Rec. 20. 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 75.
Wine selling, or vther mercheandis 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 152. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2204.
So be thare crafty merchandyce Thay wer maid ryche 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3257. 1562 Dysart Rec. 17.
And that nae mercheandise be maid upon Sonday 1567 St. A. Kirk S. 294. 1612 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I. 292.
Mercheandice 1641 Peebles B. Rec. I. 104.
[The burgh to] posses for ewer the gild of merchandice, with gildes courtes, counsall [etc.] … perteining to the samen 1652 Ib. II. 5.(c) ? 1596 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 13.
Tym is all in sik mairtchandeis(3) 1456 Hay I. 135/19.
Had he … maid … merchandice tharof [sc. borrowed property] … he had bene haldin to restore all agayne 1489 Acta Conc. I. 123/1. 1514 Ib. MS. XXVI. 12.
It salbe leifull to thame to cum and sell and mak lefull merchandice of the said geir 1547–8 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 132.
To bring vp his haill guidis … to this burgh, and nother to brek bowke nor to mak merchandice nor blok thairof in Leythb. transf. and fig. (1) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1486 (Asl.).
As man forjugit … Micht think it ware a mirthfull merchandice To lois a fynger his lyf for to resplait a1568 Balnavis Bann. MS. 138 b/52.
To tig and tar syne get the war It is evill merchandyis 1651 in Testimony-bearing Exemplified (1791) iii.
What he did grant was not … cheerfully … but … by a kind of coaction and merchandise as if it were a bargain of buying and selling(2) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4797.
Off benefyce thay [priests] mak gude marchandyce Throuch symonye, quhilk thay hald lytill vyce 1585 in Calderwood IV. 315.
Kything … what good merchandice he hath made since he gott his new authoritie

c. Applied to any business, activity or occupation. c1420 Wynt. v. 3449.
For wys men suld on na kyn wys Oys ony othir merchandys [C. marchandysse] In chapel, kyrk, or orator, Bot that that thai ar ordanyd for; That is contemplatyown [etc.]

2. concr. Articles or goods for sale or bought, marketable commodities. a. coll. sing.Also comb. in merchandiz ware, = Marchand-war(e n.(1) 1375 Barb. ix. 440 (E).
The lave … Sesyt to thaim … Men and armyng and marchandis 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Yhour men … hade takyne … certayne Scottis schippis chargit with marchandis & the marchandis thar of c1420 Wynt. ii. .
Scho … drewe in tyll it marchandys Bowcht and sawlde on syndry wys 14.. Acts I. 306/2. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 90 (Ch.). 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 209/2.
The custumyn of his said propir marchandice 1533 Boece ii. iiii. 89 b.
Marchandice 1550 Reg. Privy C. I. 109.
Ony maner of stuf nor marchandece commonlie sauld in this realme 1596 Dalr. I. 22/17.
Abundance of marchandise(b) 1449 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 370.
[Not] to mak distrublans … tyll ony of our liegis cummand … to the said mercat of Glasgu with merchandys 1456 Hay I. 207/2. 1456 Acts II. 47/1. 1476 Acta Aud. 48/2.
Certain merchiandice bocht fra him be the said Gilbert 1478 Acta Conc. I. 17/2.
The soume … aucht be him to the said Patric for lent siluer and merchandis 1492 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 419. 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 148. 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 204/1.
To cum within the port … with his leful merchandice 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 140. 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 409/1. 1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 182.
To put ordour to all maner of merchandice or stapill gudis pertenyng to the gildry 1518 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 94.
The legence gevin to unfremen to saill with merchandeise 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 126. 1551 Ib. 154. 1552 Soc. Ant. II. 414.
With ony merchandis … except wyne, teir, irn, salmund 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I. 223. 1558 Inverness Rec. I. 21.
Merchandace 15.. Clar. iii. 861.
Thay fand cairtis, and theron hes laid thair merchandeice 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3225. 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 60. 1605 Glasgow Merchants House 95.
Merchandeis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 136.
Meate, drink, claies … and sic like other small merchandise 1625 Justiciary Cases I. 27.
Mercheandice(c) 1596 Acts IV. 113/1.
Quhatsumeuir benefeit … sall redound to the said maircheant estate be the … discharge of the … custumes … of thair guidis and maircheandice 1616 Melrose P. 263.
Thair wes a nomber of rid hering maid at Dunbar, … sauld as goode and laughfull maircheandice(2) 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 132.
Ane last of salmond, ful rede, swete, gude and sufficient merchandice of the bind of Abirdene —1573 Prot. Bk. J. Harlaw 205 b (see Mercat a. 1 d).(3) comb. 1671 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 17 June.
Her guids and geir … in … merchand schop in merchandiz wair inwith or outwith

b. plur. 14.. Acts I. 61/2.
That the merchandises … salbe … perofferit to the merchandis 1456 Hay II. 28/32.
Treis that hynderis … cartis … and merchandices to passe through the forestis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 12.
Ane schip … brak … ladynit full of precious merchandices 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 144.

c. sing. An article of merchandise, a saleable commodity. fig. a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv. 15.
Ane marchandice of gretest price That euer ony bocht