Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

MURLIN, n. Also murlain; with variant dim. endings murlig (Cai.), -ick (Crm.). A round narrow-mouthed basket used by fishermen, usually shaped like a large flower-pot (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Abd. 1963); also used by a spinner for holding wool (Cai.⁸ 1934). [′mʌrlɪn]Abd. 1788 Aberdeen Mag. 537:
And lightsome be her load wha bears The murlin and the creel.Ags. 1819 G. Beattie Poems (1882) 238:
When ance wi' murlin by my zide Down to the zands I gaed.Abd. 1867 W. Anderson Rhymes 210:
Hazel wands for making creels and murlins.Abd. 1881 J. W. Ritchie Geordie Tough's Squeel (1931) 3:
Murlins, sculls, an' sauchs, an' rungs, An' aul' tar-bar'ls wantin' bungs.Sc. 1961 Scotsman (1 Aug.):
The display of baskets, varying from the Shetland kishie to the Newhaven fishwife's murlin.

Hence comb. murlin mou, a clam shell (Abd. 1949); phr. to get a blunk in one's murlin, to get a disappointment, to have a failure (Id.).