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

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 Treasurer's Accounts 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. 1501 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 Asloan 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 Legends of the Saints 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 Rec. Convention of Royal 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 Acts Lords Auditors 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 Acts Lords of Council 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 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 454. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Assisa. 1609 Rec. Convention of Royal 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 1644 Ib. 327.
870 bolls Louthian measur 1644 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 measureplur. 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 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LXXII. 227.
That ilk mesour haif ane tapoun an inche beneith the lip, and the stop to be just mesour to the tapoun 1562 Treasurer's Accounts 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 Rec. Convention of Royal 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 Master of Works Accounts (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 1576 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 Rec. Convention of Royal 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 Treasurer's Accounts 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 Legends of the Saints 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 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1556.
He … gart hir bleid aganis hire will A mesour mekle maire na skill 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 60.
For viij mesuris of salt to the said lard 1615 Master of Works Accounts (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 meassourfig. 1551 Hamilton Catechism 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 c1420 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 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 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 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1280.
We mon but mesour thole torment eternale a1499 Ib. 1480. c1515 Asloan 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. a1568 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 Raving 307.
It is our mekill thing It passes fare atour mesour c1420 Ib. 995. a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 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 Raving 971.
Set neuer thi wordis our mesour Na pled nocht bot for thine awn honore c1420 Ib. 1550. 1456 Hay I. 300/11.
For to geve … giftis our mesure 1490 Irland Mir. I. 72/11. a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 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.] c1611–c1617 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 Catechism 141. (see sense 7(4).) —1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8758. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 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 King Hart 170. 1596 Dalr. I. 315/21. 1596 Ib. 340/15.
His houshald geir … was rich and illustre out of mesour 1596 Ib. II. 4/27.(9) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5038.
Haveand sic prosperitie With so gret ryches by mesoure(10) c1420 Ratis Raving 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 Raving 1472.
Ay the gretar senȝory Suld leid thar stat mar mesour by c1420 Ib. 443. 1456 Hay II. 63/5. 1456 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.] 1456 Ib. II. 62/35. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 653.
He saw thair was na meiknes nor mesure micht mend a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 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 Asloan MS I. 176/9.
Resoun, equite and mesour a1568 Bannatyne 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 Satirical Poems 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 tresourplur. 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 c1420 Ib. v. 600.
Thai gert hym syne in mete and drynk Sic mesoure oys as thai couth thynk 1456 Hay I. 300/5. a1500 King 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 Tale of the Colkelbie 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 Sages 3162. a1568 Bannatyne MS 135 a/28.
Eit and drink with mesour And defy the leich a1568 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 Raving 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 Maitland Folio MS xlvii. 66.
In mesour ay is best to hald 1551 Hamilton Catechism 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 c1420 Ib. 928.

b. Personified. — c1420 Ratis Raving 1488.
Tyrandry That ay with mesur is at fed a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 31.
Quhair mesur is nocht maistres a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS 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 Catechism 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 Complaynte of Scotland 37/22.
Singand melodius reports of natural music in accordis of mesure of diapason prolations 1549 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 c1550-c1580 Ib. 27.
Semidite is the half of the first mesur of noittis c1550-c1580 Ib.
Diminucioun … is a precisione of the mid part in mesur not[h]ing discrepant fro semiditc. 1569 Wode's Psalter (Bass) 138.
The secund mesure of the ci psalme 1569 Ib. (Tenor) 149.
It hes thre measuris, by the triplay c1611–c1617 Mure Early Misc. P. xx.18.
O daigne to vieu Those airtles measurs, to thee only due