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.

(Mik,) Myk, Mek, n. [ME. (once) mike (14th c.) a ‘crutch’ supporting a boom in a ship: corresp. to e.m.E. miche (1495), meche (1514) support for a cannon etc., mod. (Sc. and Eng.) nautical mitch (-board) ‘crutch’ in a ship, meck, a notched staff in a whale-boat on which the harpoon rests. Cf. MDu. micke, mic (Du. mik) forked stick, support, MLG. micke, E.Fris. mikke, etc.] a. A support for a gun. b. Some accessory of a clock.a. 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 292.
For xxxvj gunchameris, and for mykkis and bandis to the gunnys 1497 Ib. 334.
For iiij waw of irne, to mak bandis to duris, crukis, mykkis and slottis to gunnis 1513 Ib. IV. 485. 1566 Thomson Invent. (1815) 169 (Jam.).
Item, sex cutthrottis of irne with their mekisb. 1546–7 Ayr B. Acc. 101.
[For repairs to the knock including two] mekkis [and a] mydstanchir 12s. 2d.