Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Maternal, a. Also: maternall, -ale, matarnall. [e.m.E. maternal(l (Caxton), F. maternel (14th c.), f. L. māternus, Matern(e a.] Maternal, mother-.

1. Maternal toung, langage. a. One's mother tongue, one's native language.After med. L. lingua materna. 1492 Myll Spect. 272/5.
Me thocht the mater gud … to be had in to our wulgar and matarnall toung 1533 Boece ix. xv. 327.
He spak in his maternal langage c1552 Lynd. Mon. 538 head.
Twycheyng the wryttyng of uulgare and maternall language Ib. 569.
Bot in thare most ornate toung maternall, Quhose fame … doith ryng perpetuall Ib. 553. 1622-6 Bisset I. 77/35. Ib. 18/24.
Usand my awin maternall Scottis langaige or mother toung in … compendious termes and clene dictionare

b. The native tongue of the mothers rather than of the fathers. — 1533 Boece iv. vij. 135 b.
To Moravis war gevin the Scottis virginis in mariage … ; and the posterite following the maternale toung, forȝetting the faderis langage, [etc.]

2. That is one's mother. fig. 1513 Doug. vii. xii. 137.
Hys cheif maternal cite ful of mycht, Aricya [L. mater Aricia] furth sent this worthy knycht