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: 1399-1500
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Menstralsy, -cy, n. Also: menstrailsy, menstrasy. [ME. menestrelsy (14th c.), -tralcie, menistralsi (a 1350), menstralsy(e (14th c.), menstracy, -ie (14th c.), OF. menestralsie. Cf. Minstralsy (and Menstral(l)y).] Minstrelsy, musical entertainment.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints l. 37.
The noys, the raryng & the bere Of noyt & schepe & menstralsy That mycht bene hard quha had ben by c1420 Wynt. iii. 974.
He that mycht [the gre] thare wyn Off towrneamentys or justyng. Menstralsy [C. menstrailssy] or wersslyng 1456 Hay I. 300/31.
It efferis wele till a king … to be wele mesurit … in his menstralsy of tong or othir wayis 1456 Ib. II. 134/23.
[To] here synging and menstralsy with all blythenesplur. c1420 Wynt. v. 2082.
The Romanys hale … held festywalle In … Menstralcyis and gret dansyng(b) a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 2760.
Baith menstrasy and festing at the des
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"Menstralsy n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/menstralsy>
