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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡MELTITH, n. Also melte(i)th, mealtith, meltaith (Lnk. 1816 G. Muir Cld. Minstrelsy 5); meltit, -et; mealtate; ¶melter (Sc. 1775 Weekly Mag. (26 Jan.) 219).

1. A meal, a repast; food, sustenance; a mealtime (‡Dmb. 1962).Sc. 1706 Sc. Antiquary XII. 103:
In the mean time we sit with mony a Hungry Wame and mony a slight Mealtate.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 27:
A hearty hand to give a hungry meltith. An ironical Ridicule upon a niggardly Dispenser.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 27:
The feckless meltet did her heart o'erset, 'Cause nature frae't did little sustnance get.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) 137:
A heartsome meltith, and refreshing synd O' nappy liquor, o'er a bleezing fire.Slk. 1811 Hogg Poems (1874) 373:
Auld Geordie sat beside a board Wi' routh o' hamely meltith stored.Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Poems (1897) 40:
Held aye the house baith tight and bein And made their meltiths warm and clean.Sc. 1821 Scott Pirate xi.:
Mair like a mash for horse than a meltith for man's use.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 241:
On the strength of our melteith . . . we sallied furth.s.Sc. 1880 Border Counties Mag. I. 93:
I'll do it for a meltith o' meat.Lnl. 1910 J. White Eppie Gray 7:
An' though a humble meltith. Feth, a better coodna be.

Hence combs.: ¶(1) meltith-buird, a table, the board where meals are served; (2) meltit time, mealtime; (3) meltith hale, able to eat heartily. Cf. meat-hale, s.v. Meat.(1) Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms cxxviii. 3:
Yer weans, round about yer meltith-buird, sal growe like the olive wands.(2) Ags. 1820 A. Balfour Contemplation 278:
For milk, an' bread, an' sowens, an' kail, Were never missed at meltit time.(3) Rnf. 1842 R. Clark Random Rhymes 19:
To see gin a' be meltith hale, An' thrang at wark.

†2. The quantity of milk given by a cow at a single milking (Ags., Per. 1825 Jam.). Cf. Meal, n.²Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 102:
Quickly they the kebbuck table, Hawkie's e'enin' mealtith bring.Ags. 1821 A. Lowson R. Guidfollow (1890) 235:
The milk frae ony cow could steal An' make whole meltits ramp!s.Sc. 1839 Wilson's Tales of the Borders V. 96:
She accordingly brought her evening's meltith and skimmed it into his dish.