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: 1420-1606
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Mold, n.1 Also: molde, and Moal(e. [ME. molde (north. mold), e.m.E. mold(e, mould, OE. molde wk. fem., ON. mold str. fem.: cf. Mould(e and Muld(e n.1In later south Sc. (and north. Eng.) dial. also as moud.]
1. Earth, soil. a1500 Henr. Fab. 83 (Makc.).
It wer pete thow suld in this myddyng Be beriit thus amang this muk & mold [H. on mold] a1570-86 Merser Maitland Folio MS clxiii. 13.
Eyrd apone eird and mold vpone mold Lyke as eird vnto eird never go sold Eird gois apone eird 1535 Stewart 26890.
Ilk man said he rakkit nocht of gold No moir that tyme than muldis of the mold a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlvi. 33.
As the mas misforme of mudie mold Be quelling dois fair qualiteis acquyire 1580 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 198.
Be deliuerance to thame of the said stane and mold as vse is
2. The (surface of the) earth, the ground; the earth on which we dwell, the world.Only in verse, espec. allit. or in allit. contexts, in the phrases on (upon), also abone, in, over (the, this) mold.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 2.
At morne as I ment Throwe myrth markit on mold till a grene meid c1450-2 Ib. 367.
A lyon … Maid maikles of mycht on mold quhar he movit a1500 Golagros and Gawane 350.
He is maid on mold meik as ane child a1500 Ib. 446.
I sall preif all my pane … Hym to mensk on mold a1500 Ib. 682.
Thai mighty men vpon mold ane riale course maid a1500 Ib. 457, 818, 1119, 1171. a1500 Henr. III. 48/212 (Ch.).
Non mithtiar on mold For couatise a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 413.
Be than wes machit on mold Als mony as thay wold a1550 Tayis Bank 87.
Non on mold that did hir meit a1550 Ib. 90. 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 94.
All men on mold ar markit for to de 1604 Craig i. 11.
Thy match on mould nor was, nor yet shall bee 1606 Ib. ii. 157.(2) c1450-2 Howlat 73.
Hir … That thus has maid on the mold ane monstour of me c1450-2 Ib. 902. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 552.
Bery broune wes the blonk … Wpone the mold quhare thai met a1500 Ib. 807.
For al the mobil on the mold ?a1500 Rosw. & Lillian 229.
Roswall was mourning on the mold [: gold] 1535 Stewart 9739.
Nane manliar wes markit on the mold1535 Ib. 41281, etc. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4921.
Sa couetous as he was … I neuer red ane formit on the mold 1560 Ib. 5223; etc. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 94.
All … dwellaris on the molde 1567 Ib. 186.
Quhill half the ryches on the molde Is seasit in thair handis a 1570 Misc. Spald. C. II. xxviii.
The bonie bird sat on the mold [: gold](3) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1833.
Nor mare weilfare til haue abone the mold(4) 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 316.
Geue ȝe be myndit on this mold remaine 1604 Craig i. 34.
There is no loue allace vpon this mournefull molde(5) 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 148.
Of all the mowys in this mold sen God merkyt man(6) a1568 Bannatyne MS 265 a/1.
Furth ouer the mold at morrow as I ment
b. The earth or ground of the grave. In mold, wndyr mold, = in the grave. c1420 Wynt. vii. 572 (c) [see Muld(e n.1 2 (1)].
In mold — c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii. 213.
Hyr most desyr was to be wndyr mold
3. The ‘field’ of a heraldic escutcheon. c1450-2 Howlat 413.
Syne in asure the mold A lyoun crovnit with gold
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"Mold n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Apr 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mold_n_1>
