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.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1475, 1535-1586
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Maistrice, Mastrice, n. Also: -tris, -trys, -tre(i)s. [ME. (appar. chiefly north. and north midl.) maistris (Cursor M.), -es, -yse, mastres, e.m.E. mastres, maisteresse (1680), OF. maistrise f. maistre Maister n.1 Cf. Maister n.2] Only in verse in Sc.
= Maistry n. in various senses. a. Might, force, compulsion, skill; the display of might or skill, a feat. b. Ascendancy.a. 1375 Barb. iv. 524.
Our cuntre … Throu thair mastrice [E. maistrys] thai occupy 1375 Ib. vi. 566.
The hund did than sa gret mastris That [etc.] 1375 Ib. xviii. 260. 1375 Ib. xix. 182.
Othir in thair sted sall ris That sall cwn litill of sic mastris [E. mastrys] c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x. 696.
Quhat Sotheroun thai ourtak, Contrar the Scottis com neuir maistrice to mak 1535 Stewart 9452.
The Romanis … Had him ouirset throw greit maistres and mycht a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitland Folio MS xxx. 52.
Maistreis and reif is [counted] gyding and gude thrift 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1636.
My awin lady on maistres to deforsb. a1568 Scott vi. 8.
So luve garris sober wemen small Get maistrice our grit men of gud
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"Maistrice n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/maistrice>
