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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.

Maich, n. Also: maiche, maych(e, maicht; maigh, maygh(e; mayth; meach(e; meuche, mewche; and Moich. [North. ME. magh (Cursor M.), midl. moȝ(e (13th c.), ON. mág-r son-, brother-, father-in-law (Sw. måg, Norw. maag son-in-law). Cf. Mach and Mauch.]

A male connection by marriage.a. One's son-in-law. b. One's brother-in-law: see Mach(e n.a. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1625 (W).
Turnus … That … mayghe wes to this king Latyne, And had weddit his dochter Lavyne ?a1400 Nine Nobles 16 (L).
His [Caesar's] maicht Pompey 1513 Doug. xi. ix. 66 (Sm.).
To be his maigh and son in law Ib. xii. x. 150. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 89/11.
Wourthy to be his maich Ib. 156/10. 1533 Boece xvi. vii. 623.
Archbald Earle of Douglas maich to King Robert Brus xv. 274 (H).

c. One's father-in-law. d. A male cousin, half-cousin, nephew, or uncle, by marriage.c. 1568 Haddington Corr. II. 115.
Ane writting … quhilk I [sc. James MacCartnay] haif schawin to my lord my maister and your [sc. Thomas Hamilton's] maich [Regent Murray]d. 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 108.
My Lord Huntlie is your [Lord Sinclair's] mayche. He hes had the Lady of Ardendrachtis [sc. Elizabeth Stewart, cousin of Lord Sinclair] dochter to Strabogy with him 1577 Waus Corr. 157.
My lord and maiche [Countess of Crawford to Sir Patrick Waus, who married her cousin's daughter] 1586 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 439.
Then was your [sc. James Carmichael's] maich [Calderwood mewche] the bishop [Patrick Adamson, his mother-in-law's brother] brought and [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 199.
Directed to the Archbishopes meache [Calderwood mewche] and graittest associat, Mr Alexander Home, minister of Dunbar [sc. his sister's son-inlaw] a1651 Calderwood V. 198.
Your mewche [supra your nephew] is little better nor begging

e. In the following instances the precise relationship does not appear or has not been ascertained: 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I. 121.
John Sellar, … borc for hym John Smyth his mayth 1456 Ib. 114. 1498 Acta Conc. II. 291.
Ingraham Litill, Matho Litill, Stevin Litill, brether, Jhone Scot thair maich c1420 Wynt. i. 1642 (W).
The maygh 1531–9 St. A. Formulare II. 100.
His maych 1533 Bell. Livy I. 36/2.
For thai wer faderis & maichis, sonis & nevois 1564–75 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 52.
Johne Schelis my maicht to be curatour … to … my sone 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 172. 1628 Sutherland Corr. 147.
Our meach Frendracht 1657 Edinb. Test. LXVIII. 23 Jan.
My meuche