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.
Quotation dates: 1773-1851
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MOLASS, n., v. Also molas(h); mal(l)ash; moloss; and nonce macaronic form molationis. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. molasses. [mə′lɑʃ]
I. n. Spirits distilled from molasses; whisky adulterated with this.Sc. a.1774 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 170, 193:
Not so my Dear knights, Fares the Ignorant ass Who drinks all the Evening at burning Molass . . . To claw het pints we'd never grudge O' molationis.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 51:
Spout ye a mutchkin o' molash in her cheek, ye'll get her mind an' speed the better.Sc. 1789 W. Buchan Domestic Medicine 98, note:
Above two thousand private stills are constantly employed in preparing a poisonous liquor called Molasses.Lth. 1813 G. Bruce Poems 25:
The only guid molass has dune, Some drouthie wives it's sent hame soon; Which gars their dearies canty croon, The praise o' sugar whisky.Ayr. a.1851 A. Aitken Poems (1873) 56:
Wives mak' as guid drink frae mallash.
II. v. To put molass into inferior spirits to give it body and increase its quantity. Ppl.adj. molassed, moloss[t], drunk with molass; “dissolute” (Ayr. 1825 Jam., moloss).Sc. 1789 W. Buchan Domestic Medicine 98, note:
The common people have got so universally into the habit of drinking this base spirit, that when a porter or labourer is seen reeling along the streets, they say, he has got molassed.Slk. 1823 W. Crozier Cottage Muse (1847) 50:
No that vile stuff, as blae as wash, That smuggler bodies sae malash, To gar it measure out.
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"Molass n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/molass>
