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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.

Mesur(e, -our(e, n. Also: mesowr(e, -or, -eur, -er; messo(u)r, -ur; meas(s)ur(e, -our(e, -owr, -or, -er, -iere; meisore. [ME. (c 1200) and e.m.E. mesur(e, -our, e.m.E. measure, F. mesure. Cf. also Missour.]

I. In material senses.

1. What anything measures, its size, quantity or dimensions, as ascertained by measurement.Of gud mesure, of good or adequate size.Also plur. in same sense.(1) 14.. Acts I. 387/2.
The mesure of the balk that men weyis with sal be in lynth an elne [etc.]
1456 Hay I. 12/23.
Nane can get the mesure of nouthir lenth na brede na depenes
15.. Newbattle Coll. (Chart.).
Ane pec land … of the samyn quantyte and mesur that the land grantit … to hyme vos
1531 Bell. Boece I. lviii.
Thay … gevis ane gowpin or ellis sum thingis mair abone the just mesure that thay sell
1531 Vaus 4.
Bot gyf the accusatiue signifye mesure of quantite or excese, quhilk mesure thai may gouerne in the accusatiue or ablitiue cais
1575 Glasgow Chart. I. ii. 165.
Ane ladill full of cornis, quhilk is neir the messour of ane ferd pairt peck
(2) 1509–10 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 126.
It contenis … twa rudes and ane half rude and v feet of mesure in breide
1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Particata.
That ane rod, ane raip, ane lineall fall of measure are all ane
1617 Acts IV. 536/2. 1685 Ib. VIII. 494/2.(3) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Serplath.
Ane last of rye is sometime auchtene bolles and somestime [sic] nine-teene bolles in measure
1624 Huntar Weights & Measures i.
At the beginning all thinges were disposed … in measure, number and weight
(4) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 509.
[Bucephalus was] Weill pasturit hovit and of gud mesure

b. The act of measurement. — a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1039.
Met and measur maks men wise

c. To tak (the) mesure(s of (a thing), to tak (a person's) mesure, to measure, take (the person's or thing's) measurements. Also, of a tailor, to have (a person's) measour (= measurements for clothes).(1) 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 320.
To a man to tak mesour of muldis of diuers gunnys … to mak pellockis of irne
1497 Ib. 339.
To Pait Falconar, wricht, … to tak the mesure of the ruf of the Kingis chamir to mak Dunbar sic lik
1501 Ib. II. 107. Ib. 116.
Giffin to Jok Smyth to pas to Dunbar to tak the mesuris of the windois to mak
(2) 1664 Red Bk. Grandtully I. cxxx.
Cause an tailȝeor ther take your meassur according to your last soote
(3) 1665 Old Ross-shire I. 144.
Ye call for Fredreek Freaser taylor qho hes my measour [to make me a suit etc.]

d. Be (by) mesure, by measuring, by measuring out, as determined by measurement (sometimes as distinguished from weighing or counting). c1420 Wynt. v. 5048.
Be mesoure and be evyn weycht To gywe hyr wemen tow to spyn
a1500 Henr. III. 150/7.
Als ȝour medicyne by mesour I haif meit met it
1494 Loutfut MS. 12 a.
Armorie suid be set be nombre and be mesour of compas
c1515 Asl. MS. I. 155/11.
Thai compt nocht be space nor mesour bot be diuers disposicioun
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4560.
He left behynd hym one treassoure Off gold and syluer by mesoure Be one iuste computatioun Weill fyue and twentye myllioun
1587-99 Hume 19/62. 1698 Argaty Baron Ct. 29 Jan.
For selling and buying of meall and malt by measure and not by weight

e. With messour, ? with attention to measurement, by careful measurement. — 1529–30 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 104.
Syne tak that ilk pais and gaf it to euery hovne and thair to be kepit with messour

f. With mesoure of, ? against the standard or criterion of, fig. — a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 1224.
In als mykil as I ame lawit With gud consideracione With mesoure of perfeccione

g. Judgement of distance in shooting. — 1570 Leslie 181.
The … capitane … caused showte at thame in sa gret aboundance and with so guid messour that [etc.]

2. A standard or system of measurement of capacity or dimension appointed or used for a particular commodity or class of commodities.Also plur. in same sense.For some further examples see Met n. 1.Also qualified with the name of the commodity(as bere, corn etc. mesour), the name of the standard instrument (as jug mesour), and occas. the name of the denomination (as tun mesour), and the name of the method (as hepit, strake, pluk, prik mesour), see these various first elements; also land- and (salt-) watter-mesour, qq.v.Also freq. qualified with the name of the locality in which the measure or system is used or where it originated, also once with the name of a person as the originating authority; see also Met n. 3 b for further examples.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3604.
Swa than begowth and efftyr lang Off land wes mesure ane oxgang
1425 Acts II. 12/1.
The mesoure of the ferlote is this; it sal contene [etc.]
1487 Ib. 178/2.
That the barell bind of salmond sulde kepe & contene the assise & mesour of xiiij gallonis
1488 Ib. 213/1. 1527–8 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 232. 1545 Ib. 119.
That thai gif the laid of malt with siclyke mesour and heippis as the awld vse hes bene
1551 Elgin Rec. I. iii.
That the quhit candill be of the auld mesour
1567 Acts III. 39/2.
That thair be ane wecht ane mesour through all the realme
1576 Orkney Oppress. 53.
Quhilk plowkis is the just messor of the can that the ulie suld be fild to
1580 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 120.
Bartholome McBrome to … deliver to James Lichtoun xij bolls salt small mesour
1581 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 83.
Aggreit to … vse the mesour of stoipis according to the jug mett
1584 Acts III. 302/2. 1594 Conv. Burghs I. 438. 1607 Wedderb. Compt. Bk. 72.
Sex ellis lange of blo[nn]kit 2 ell bred to be littit sad russet and I to pay a merk for ilk stane [pr. testan] hes duble messour theron
1619 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 170. 1624 Huntar Weights & Measures 5.
The fovndation of measures for length … 3 barlie cornes … lying in length … maketh an inch
1625 Justiciary Cases I. 29. 1627 Rep. Parishes 2.
The minister his stipend is thre chaideris wictuail of the new measour
1656 Acts VI. ii. 846/2.(2) 1446–7 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. IV. 461.
iiij chalder of malt of the mesur of Berwic
1471 Acta Aud. 22/1.
Twa last of salmond & thre barelles of Hamburghe mesour
1478 Ib. 65/2.
lxxxv bollis of mele of the vssuale mesure of the scherefdoume of Wigtoune
1500 Acta Conc. II. 464.
Crammesy velvous contenand xxv ellis of the mesure of Flandris
1541 Yester Writs 171.
44 bolls of aitis sawing of the grete mesur of Niddisdale
1573–4 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII. 79.
For tua stoipis of the mesour of Stirling
1575 Reg. Privy C. II. 454.
That thay sould have the mesour of Dunbar, quhilk he assurit thame wes not passand a pek fra the boll of the mesour of Berwik
1595 Conv. Burghs I. 454. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Assisa. 1609 Conv. Burghs II. 284. 1613 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 337. 1627 Rep. Parishes 139.
The bollis ar mesour of Nith
1639 Acts V. 606/1.
And ordaines the stableris measure to be according to the mercat measure
1644 Army of the Covenant II. 325.
624 bols Kelso measure
Ib. 327.
870 bolls Louthian measur
Ib. 328.
349 bols Lanerk measur
1655 Boyd Fam. P. No. 216 (2 Nov.).
Four bolls … of Carrik measour and ane boll of Galloway measour
1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 226.
Accompteing sixten peckes to the boll measur of Nyth
1669 Wemyss Corr. 133.
With 40 chalders of salt, Wemiyss mesure
1672 Aberd. Council Lett. V. 157. 1682 Dunkeld Presb. I. 408. 1683 Garden Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 135.
Reaching to the height of … seven score ells Flanders measure
1701 Campbeltown Town Council Min. Bk. MS.
A ladle … out of each boll bear Kintyre measure
plur. 1685 Paterson Sc. Arithm. 7.
Half a puncheon of the said Burdeaux measures being 8½ gallons
(3) 1577 Waus Corr. I. 162.
Ewerilk boll, conform to the Erle of Cassilis mesor of the inche

b. Of mesour, conforming to or serving as a standard of measurement. 1543–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 115.
That all nychtbures … fra this day furth haif stowppis of mesour with tawponis in the hals

c. fig.By one's oune measure, at one's own discretion, as much as one likes.(1) [See Met v. 3 b (1) and Met p.p. 1 (7)].(2) 1680-6 Lauder Observes 141.
The curates and souldiers … would not spare to shed ther [sc. the Whigs'] blood by ther oune measure

3. A standard instrument for measuring.For further instances see Met n. 2 (and Mete n.3), Met v. 1, Metlum(e n., and also Eln(e)wand n., Elwand n. 1, Ferlot n. 2, Firlot n. 2, Fourlet n., and other designations of specific measures.

a. (? Most freq.), a vessel of a standard capacity for measuring quantities of liquids or solids.Also, a cask or the like as a measure of quantity of fish.c1420 Wynt. ii. 444 [see Mete v.2 (a)]. 14.. Acts I. 30/2.
Ilke burges may hafe in his hous a mesure to met his corne ane elnewand a stane and punde wecht for til wey and al thir mesuris and wechtis sal be selyt wyth the seele of the burgh
1425 Ib. II. 10/1. 1457 Ib. 50/1. 1529 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 122.
At thair be ane mesour of irine maid to the belman to tak his dwitie of the landuart men of quantitie as beis thocht expedient
1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 158. 1554–5 Soc. Ant. LXXII. 227.
That ilk mesour haif ane tapoun an inche beneith the lip, and the stop to be just mesour to the tapoun
1562 Treas. Acc. XI. 178.
For ane fals meser
1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 42.
Ony wyne or aill mesour
1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 330.
The … braysin mesour of the pynt of Stirling
1593 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 395.
Andro Myll vrytht [to] mak ane new mold with messoris and strakis therto
1604 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 97.
All thair mesoris of stowpis of quart peint and chopin and mutchkin
1606 Inverness Rec. II. 34 (see Meting vbl. n.2). 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 403.
To caus make ane competent nummer of measurs … good and sufficient with lugs for metting of the said hering
1614 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 116. 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 362.
For a lyme measur xii s.
1618 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 164.
The firlott and stup with the les measures
1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 324. 1664 Banff. Ann. I. 148. 1675 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 26 May.
To pay … four shilling for ane fourt pairt measer or els the measer itself
1707 Stirling B. Rec. II. 113.
The tounes right to the keeping of the liquid measures

b. A rod or the like as a measure of length. — 1576 Orkney Oppress. 16.
Vptaking our landmale and dewitie callit wadmaill with ane wrang mesour
Ib. 18 (see Met v. 2 a). 1612 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 89.
For selling burnewod with ane jimp and fals mesoure of the faddome thairof
1625 Justiciary Cases I. 29.
The measour or elne wand quairuith all clayth and stuffis is or sould be met
1663 Acts VII. 488/1.

c. Applied to either or both of senses 3 a and 3 b above, chiefly as distinguished from weights. 1456 Hay I. 115/2.
Als till him it efferis to ger kepe the mesuris and wechtis amang merchandis
c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 70/12.
I haue synnit … selland our dere be fals wechtis or fals mesouris
1493 Acts II. 235/1. 1511 Dundee Chart. 26.
The mettis, wechtis and meseuris
1533 Selkirk B. Ct. 171 (18 June).
And the said James sall leif the veycht stane and all mesouris vsit be hyme to his successouris
1555 Acts II. 496/2.
All mesouris baith pynt quart fyrlot peck elnwand stane and pund
1563-4 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 454 (see Met n. 3 b). 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 82 (see Metlum(e n.). a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 157.
Ane good measor is ane good soul freind
1617 Acts IV. 538/1.
Measures
1640 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1912) 12.
That nae person keipis any fals weightis, meisores
1691 Conv. Burghs IV. 130.
The measurs keept by Jedburgh

d. Appar. applied to a ring used to gauge the size of a coin. — 1550 Elgin Rec. I. 103.
That na persoun … rafuse … sowsis that pas nocht throch the ring and mesour

e. A container holding sufficient powder to charge a gun; one of the small powder-cases, each containing a single charge, of a bandolier. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 137.
For ane mesure to the Kingis gun of silvir, vj s. vj d.
1640 Elgin Rec. I. 266.
Alexander Alves receavit James Keyis muscatt with bandoleir conteining 10 measuris and ane purs

4. A specific quantity (of a commodity) measured out according to some agreed or understood standard. Also fig. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 225.
[We must] gyf cunt redy be tale Of mesuris of this quhete hale
c1420 Bute MS. 171 b.
Gyf ony schyp cum wyth wad he sal gyf … for ilk mesure that is callyt a setting j obl.
a1500 Seven S. 1556.
He … gart hir bleid aganis hire will A mesour mekle maire na skill
1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 60.
For viij mesuris of salt to the said lard
1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 369.
For xxiii measures of sand at xxiii s. iiii d. the measure
1616 Ib. II. 3. 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 13 Dec.
Thretie seaven pound … as the pryce of thrie water bolls of bey salt … Mair fyve merk money forsaid for ane meassour
fig. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 105.
Ane gud mesure pressit doun & schakin to gidder and rinnand ouir sal thai gif to yow

5. Due proportion, symmetry, commensurateness. 1375 Barb. x. 281 (E).
He wes off mesurabill statur And weile porturat at mesur [C. at all mesure]
c1420 Wynt. vi. 1912.
[Macbeth] Proportyownd wele in all mesoure
1562-3 Winȝet II. 58/34.
Nochttheles that it perseueir incorrupt and vndefylit, and in the hail mesoure of the partis thairof, and in al the membris and al sensis

II. In non-material senses. 6. What cannot or ought not to be exceeded, ‘bounds’, ‘limits’.Freq. to excede or pas mesure and in phrases with preps., as but (without) mesure, abone, atowr, beyond, by, of, out of, owr mesure, beyond all bounds, to excess, excessive(ly).(1) c1420 Wynt. iv. 169.
Gyff ane wald set his wyll For lykyng mesoure tyll excede
Ib. v. 5024. 1456 Hay I. 200/27.
That he wald excede mesure to sla him
c1460 Thewis Wysmen 394.
And quhen thai cum to gret honore Of helynes thai pas mesour
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1228.
In hell … Plungit in pane passing all mesure
1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 12.
And last our merciful omnipotent God puttis mesoure to the panis of the wikit
1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 89. 1581 Burne Cath. Tr. 168/26.
Sua that thay may knau that the lesingis hes na mesure
1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith 168.(2) ?1438 Alex. ii. 3142.
Ȝour courtasy and ȝour largnes Is bot mesure
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1280.
We mon but mesour thole torment eternale
Ib. 1480. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 155/17. a1568 Scott xv. 20.
With mirry hairt and mirthfulnes but mesoure
1587-99 Hume 18/34.
His great beneficence … But mesor large and infinite
(3) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6160.
So thair joyis sal be without mesour
a1568 Scott ix. 25. Ib. xxxii. ii.
Ane hairt of wo & havines, Ane mirthles hairt without mesour
a1578 Pitsc. I. 13/7.
Thay … leives without meassoure or obedience
1639 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 242.
Promising largelie and without measour
(4) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 3046.
His moder … Was of his cummyng home agane Attour mesour richt wounder fane
c1420 Ratis R. 307.
It is our mekill thing It passes fare atour mesour
Ib. 995. a1500 Seven S. 1166. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 184/13 (Asl.).
That is attoure mesour repref & schame
c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 15.
With manassing attour mesour
1535 Stewart 36190.(5) 1375 Barb. xvii. 810 (E).
Fele war woundit wttrely, The lave our mesur war wery
c1420 Wynt. vi. 982.
He desyryd oure mesoure Hey statis wytht honowre
c1420 Ratis R. 971.
Set neuer thi wordis our mesour Na pled nocht bot for thine awn honore
Ib. 1550. 1456 Hay I. 300/11.
For to geve … giftis our mesure
1490 Irland Mir. I. 72/11. a1500 Seven S. 824. a1508 Kynd Kittok 16.
Scho neuer eit bot drank our mesur [B. missour] & mair
(6) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 370.
A thing sa far beyond all measour that [etc.]
1611-57 Mure Misc. P. i. 117.
That joy beyond all meassour
(7) c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 127.
In fleschly lust aboif mesur [v.r. abone messour] exceding
1551 Hamilton Cat. 141. (see sense 7(4).)1560 Rolland Seven S. 8758. 1567 G. Ball. 33.
The paine … Abone mesour sall wirk eternall gloir In till our saull
(8) 1375 Barb. i. 570.
He wes angry out of mesur
c1420 Wynt. v. 1959. ?1438 Alex. ii. 9898. a1500 K. Hart 170. 1596 Dalr. I. 315/21. Ib. 340/15.
His houshald geir … was rich and illustre out of mesour
Ib. II. 4/27.(9) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5038.
Haveand sic prosperitie With so gret ryches by mesoure
(10) c1420 Ratis R. 811.
The thrid motyve … garris al thy spretis … bow for radnes of mesure

b. ? What something amounts or extends to, ‘how far it goes’, its extent or limits. 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 144.
Heir they [sc. Commissioners on behalf of Charles I] fell upone the service-book and the mesour of Ingland's reformatione, and Rothes [etc.] proved it was verrie farr inferiour to the reformatione of Scotland
1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 53. c1650 Spalding I. 224.
And [he] wold neuer reveill the samen [sc. plots etc.] to his gratious and royall maister, as in highest mesour he wes bound to do

c. Limitation, the condition of being limited in some respect. Also plur., limitations.(1) a1450 Fifteen Ois 53.
O Jesu … Quhom no messour may comprehend
1456 Hay I. 117/35.
For all vertu morale is ane understanding of mesure of mannis condiciounis
(2) a1679 J. Gordon Reformed Bishop (1679) 149.
To keep their distance or (according to the new coyn'd phrase) know your measures

7. Avoidance of excess, restraint; moderation or temperance in conduct.Also plur. in same sense.Variously const.With mesure, with restraint, in or with moderation; also, moderate, temperate.Also in, be, efter mesure, in gud mesour, id.(1) 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 139*.
I avysyt … hafand ee to mesur and rychtwysenes consyderand to lete mykyl yl scath and grete sclandyr [etc.]
c1420 Wynt. viii. 6846.
Nane proffyre wald thai here Off mesowre for pryd off thare powere
c1420 Ratis R. 1472.
Ay the gretar senȝory Suld leid thar stat mar mesour by
Ib. 443. 1456 Hay II. 63/5. Ib. I. 300/8.
Quhen knycht knawis nocht his quantiteis of his mesure in all his dedis his honoure is in were, for he suld be temperit in larges that [etc.]
Ib. II. 62/35. a1500 Rauf C. 653.
He saw thair was na meiknes nor mesure micht mend
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 225 (Asl.). c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 37/20.
It is wertuous mesour in etyng and drinking for the chastising of the flesche
a1500 Bk. Chess 98.
Ane philosophour … [which] all was one to saye … The luffer of mesour and of iustis
c1515 Asl. MS. I. 176/9.
Resoun, equite and mesour
a1568 Bann. MS. 44 a/33 f., 74 a/1, 228 b/29. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 24.
Without fayth in promeis, mesour in covatise, petie to the inferiour
1570 Sat. P. xvii. 44.
Thinkand alwayis that mesure was ane feist
1577 Laing MSS. I. 28.
And thairfoir sen al mesour and ressoun is refuisit be the Scottis
a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1096.
Measure is tresour
plur. c1590 Fowler I. 317/7.
I haue the Orcades seen … And Rhine, wher meane and measieres are lost
(2) 1375 Barb. ix. 661 (E).
Had he had mesure in his deid, I trow that worthyar then he [etc.]
c1420 Wynt. ii. 1352.
Haly men mesoure held all way
Ib. v. 600.
Thai gert hym syne in mete and drynk Sic mesoure oys as thai couth thynk
1456 Hay I. 300/5. a1500 K. Hart 652.
Keip mesour and treuth for therin lyis na trayne
(3) 1375 Barb. xvi. 323 (E).
Couth he … with mesur haf led his dede
c1420 Wynt. v. 1537.
Wyth mesure and benygnyte All his landys tretyde he
a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 238. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 33/27.
Or thow maye take ane nother personis gud … with mesoure and helpe the pure
1531 Bell. Boece I. 160.
Best was to use thair victory with mesure
1560 Rolland Seven S. 3162. a1568 Bann. MS. 135 a/28.
Eit and drink with mesour And defy the leich
Ib. 72 b/52.
Meseur
c1580-90 Rules of Health.
Mesor
1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1289.
That princes great sould be With measour meek and mercifull
(4) c1420 Ratis R. 431.
Of met and drink in gud mesour
c1420 Wynt. iv. 1961.
In wantones mare will to drawe Than havyng fayr in mesure hawe
1456 Hay I. 300/33. a1570-86 Maitl. F. xlvii. 66.
In mesour ay is best to hald
1551 Hamilton Cat. 141.
God gaif nocht His spret to … Jesus efter mesour, bot abone all mesour
(5) c1420 Wynt. v. 3635.
In mete and drynk off gret mesure All lust off body he ourcome
Ib. 928.

b. Personified. — c1420 Ratis R. 1488.
Tyrandry That ay with mesur is at fed
a1500 Colk. Sow i. 31.
Quhair mesur is nocht maistres
a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxviii. 70.

c. With indefin. article: An instance of moderation or restraint as displayed by a person in his action. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 739.
Sa ȝoung a prince to speik sa resonably With sic ane mesure and a sobernes

8. A proportion, quantity, degree, (of some nonmaterial attribute), chiefly as bestowed upon or imparted to a person.Also in various adv. phrases, = degree, extent, as in sum, such, full mesour, etc.(1) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 6.
Evirilk man as God hes gevin ane mesour of faith or ane gift of grace
1581 Burne Disput. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 161/9.
The mesour of impietie begun be him is nocht ȝit fullie accomplished
1587 Innes Rev. III. 20.
He has ane sufficient measour thereof [sc. the art of music]
1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 47.
All is for nocht except ye have some portion and measure of His Spirit
1655 Dingwall Presb. 267.
That such persounes sall have some meassor of … mercie in Chryst
(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 15.
Let na man presume to ga to it except in some measure his hart be sanctified
1607 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxxvi. 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 287.
In some small meassoure
(3) 1559 Knox VI. 100.
To give unto you … the spreit of wisdom in such meassour as that ye may perseave
1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 170.(4) 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 149.
My lord commissioner … wes not willing in the least meassour to incroatch upoun … the priviledges … of the burrowes
(5) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 190.
Thir torments … quhilk, gif God would let off in full measure, they would not fail [etc.]
(6) 1632 Lithgow Trav. 493.
The recouery (after some large measure) of my health

9. a. In music: ‘Measure’ or fixed relative duration of notes determining the kind of rhythm (see Mensural(l a. and Missour n. 2). b. Regular time or rhythm, in music or dancing. c. A tune, melody; also transf.a., b. a1500 Bk. Chess 1678.
Sen the wanis pvnsing of the man Is lyk in armony him [sc. the doctor] nedis than The richt mesur of musik for to haf
1549 Compl. 37/22.
Singand melodius reports of natural music in accordis of mesure of diapason prolations
Ib. 66/8.
None of them kepit moir geomatrial mesure nor thir scheiphyrdis did in ther dansing
1562-92 Wode's Psalter lxxxi.
The harpe full of pleasure, with viole in measure, That well can agree
c1550-c1580 Art of Music 1.
Music mensurall … is … the perfyt securitie and ewident distinction of all essenciall nottis, mesuris and pausis
Ib. 27.
Semidite is the half of the first mesur of noittis
Ib.
Diminucioun … is a precisione of the mid part in mesur not[h]ing discrepant fro semidit
c. 1569 Wode's Psalter (Bass) 138.
The secund mesure of the ci psalme
Ib. (Tenor) 149.
It hes thre measuris, by the triplay
1611-57 Mure I. 40/18.
O daigne to vieu Those airtles measurs, to thee only due

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"Mesur n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mesure_n>

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