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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.

Milknes(s, n. Also: mylknes, milkines; melknes. [Milk n.¹ Only Sc.]

1. The aggregate yield of the milk or milk products, over a certain period, of a certain number of cows or ewes or of a stock of dairy animals.(a) 1492 Acta Conc. I. 289/2.
The saidis personis sall … pay … for the proffit of the mylknes of the said five ky be the said space … xv stane of cheis Ib.
For the proffit of the mylknes of the said iiij^xx of ȝowis be the said thre ȝeris xlviij stane of cheis 1551 Boyd Fam. P. No. 30 (5 May).
xxiiii yowis estimat the proffitt of ilk pece in woll lamb and milknes ȝeirlie ouerheid to iiis. viiid. 1607 Grant Chart. 406.
[A lease of the small teinds … such as … ] mylknes, kanis, hallowbrokis [etc.] 1637 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 463. 1637 Cramond Ck. Cullen 164. 1646 Gunn Cross Kirk, Peebles 250. 1674 Soc. Ant. XXX. 19; 1678 Ib. 21.
Ane stirk to be brought up betwixt each twa [cows], reserving to the saids persones the milknes(b) 1618 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 233.
The hey lint hemp milkines fische and all vtheris the vicarge teindis(c) 1530 Carnwath Baron Ct. MS. 62.
xvij scheip vitht the profettis thairof, voll, kain & melknes

b. The milk and its products provided by a cow. c. A cow's capacity to give milk. 1575 St. A. Kirk S. 415.
That his kow gaif na mylknes, and his dochtir … accusit Marjory 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 101.
Of mynd to haif takin frathynfurtht the haill milknes of the cw to thi mother 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 107. 1650 Inverness Presb. 196.
Having a pocke of hearbs in her milk … as a preventative against the tacking away the substance of her milknes 1650 Elgin Rec. II 276.
Being enquyred if her [cows'] milknes was mended, scho answered it was mended in pairt 1660 Rothesay B. Rec. 55.
Hurting and holling of hir withe stanes on the syde that thairby the kowe … loste hir milknes

d. A particular lot or supply of cow's milk. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. iii.
Hettand ane kirn of milk, quhilk milknes, fra thow hed anes luikit thairon … , wald na wyis yirnn

2. As a general term for milk and its products, as butter or cheese; dairy produce. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 46.
Levand, in the somer, on milknes, rutis of herbis, and beryis c1580-90 Rules of Health 7.
Eit na fysche, mylknes nor cheis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. iii. c1650 Spalding II. 154. 1671 Lauder Notices Affairs I. 19.
A sheild … wheirin he made his butter, cheise and other milknes 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 236.
There ensued a great mortality all the north highlands over, but that milkness gave them some subsistance