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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.

Mirro(u)r, n. Also: -oure, -ouer, miro(u)r, myr(r)o(u)r(e, -owre; merrour(e; mur(r)our, -ur, mwrrowr. [ME. mir(o)ur, myr(o)ur (c 1225), myrrour(e, merrowre (15th c.), OF. mirour, -eor. Cf. also Merour.]

1. A mirror.In some instances a magic mirror or one used in divination or the like.Mirk mirrour, see Mirk a. 3.(a) 1456 Hay II. 75/20.
As myrour schawis the faultis and the suthfastnes 1492 Myll Spect. 272/30.
As the … spottis of the face schawis in the myrrour of glas a1500 Seven S. 1781.
The myrour … That warnis ws of our enemys 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 208. 1502–3 Treas. Acc. II. 357. 1531 Bell. Boece I. v.
Quhen we may cleir as in ane mirroure se The furius end … of tirannie 1551 Hamilton Cat. 26. 1571 Edinb. Test. II. 192.
Foure faulding myrrouris 1597 Bk. Rates 7 b.
Lytill keking mirrouris the dosane, ix s. 1630 Drummond II. 91/774.
Like vnto a mirrouer(b) 1493 Acta Conc. I. 282/2.
Twa pare of barbouris syssouris a kame a mvrrour 1533 Gau 12/8.
Thay that wsis corsis christal murrur bukis … to find hwid hurdis in the ȝeird 1540 Maxwell Mem. I. 409.
Ane cais of camis … with ane mwrrowr c1550-c1580 Art of Music 8.
As in ane visibill murour 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI. 126.
Sevin cristellene murrours les and mair

b. Attrib. and comb. 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 332 b.
Sex myrror glasis price iij s. 1586 Ib. XV. 142 b.
Ane mirrour glas price [13/4 d.] 1593 Ib. XXV. 187 b. 1610 Ib. XLVI. 176.
The grit mirrour glas that is hanging abone the littel dressour 1624 Ib. LII. 256. 1627 Brechin Test. IV. 291.
Tua myror glaisis, pryce xv lib. 1638 Elphinstone Mun. 26. 1695 Acts IX. 523/1. — 1685 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 34.
Cabinett and miror maker 1695 Acts IX. 523/1.
Cabinet and mirror glassmaker

2. fig. a. An example to be followed, a pattern or model.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 945.
For he to thaim was sic myrroure That he gert thaim leif thare erroure c1420 Wynt. vii. 1219.
Hys awyn oys … May myrrowre and ensawmpill be Till alkyn statis Ib. vi. 684. c1450-2 Howlat 970.
Now mark ȝour mirour be me 1456 Hay II. 79/6.
Remember thé of this that I say here and mak thé a myrour of it c1460 Regim. Princ. 209 (M).
Thow suld thame schaw ane gud myrrour c1490 Porteous Noblenes 175/5.
Hie honour is … the werray myrrour quharin he suld addres all his werkis c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxv. 20. a1538 Abell 48 a.
Religioun … florist sa in Scotland … at it wes ane mirrour to wthir kinrikis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 13/27.
We … beseikis … euery ane … quha vnfenȝetlie lufis God … to luke in the mirrour underwryttin 1567 G. Ball. 234. a1605 Montg. Son. ix. 3.(b) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 26.
Storysse … That as merroure ar vs to, To kene ws how we suld do(c) 1531 Bell. Boece I. cix.
Schaw how the kingis … governance, The murrour of leving to his peple bene

b. A shining example, a paragon. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 8.
Maist reuerend Virgill … Lantarn, laid stern, myrrour and A per se a1605 Montg. Misc. P. l. 24.
Mirrour of madinis, Margareit

c. A cautionary example, a ‘warning’. 1549 Compl. 94/32.
The onfaithful cruel act … suld be mirrour and ane exempil til al Scotland 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xli. 76.
It is ane mirrour manifest Of dule and dolour to be dred

d. A supreme example, the acme (of the trait or quality specified).(a) 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 383.
The mirroure of vertu and warldis glore c1515 Asl. MS. I. 172/12.
Him self is the myrrour & example of velany 15.. Clar. i. 1428; etc. 1549 Compl. 14/3.
Thy philosophour … maye be callit the mirrour of folye 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4068. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 9/13.
Ȝour grace's excellence … is sik a mirrour of al godlines, constance and continence 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. vi. 6.
Loue's most machles mirrour(b) a1450 Fifteen Ois iii.
O Jesu, of cleynnes the merroure