Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mele, Meil(l, v. Also: mel, meil(l)e, meale. [ME. mele (14th c.), mælenn (Orm), p.t. meild (Cursor M.), mealde (Legend of Katharine), OE. mǽlan, ON. mæla. (Cf. Mell v.²)] intr. and tr. To speak, converse; to tell; to say.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 249.
To quhame gretand Paule cane mele [: hele] ‘Fare well, dowchtir’ Ib. xviii. 1236. Ib. xxx. 263.¹ c1420 Wynt. (see Mell v.²).¹ a1500 Henr. Fab. 697 (Bann.).
Bot to the tod thus gait the wolf couth mele [: sele] ‘Art thow contreit?’ a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 69.
Bright letteris … Makand mencioune quha maist of manhede couth mele [: dele] Ib. 299.
Thair wes na man that durst mel to the king Ib. 395.
Schir Gawyne … Melis of the message to Schir Golagrus Ib. 354.(b) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 1042.
Prophettis quhome with God can meille [: leile] Ib. xxxi. 307.
[Th]is matron … Wald sum tyme … with the abbot gladly meile [: heile] c1475 Wall. x. 1063.
Off King Eduuard ȝeit mar furth will I meill [: deill](2) a1568 Bann. MS. 229 a/5.
The merle melit with all hir mycht a1500 Henr. Fab. 1710 (Bann.) (see Mell v.²).
Meale