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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ȝerle, Yer(l, n. Also: ȝerll, yearil, i(e)rll. [Var. of Erl(e n. Cf. ON jarl. Also in the later dial.]

a. A nobleman of antiquity. = Erl(e n. 1 b. b. Earl of (a place). = Erl(e n. 2.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 430.
& scho, that wes refusit sa, Sone gert the lord the ȝerle tab. 1464–5 Acts XII 31/2.
The chancellare the Ȝerle of Ergile 1495 Contract (Mey P.) 13 June.
The landis of Clyne … resignit … in the Ȝerle of Suthirlandis handis 1530 Lennox Mun. 237.
Mathew Ȝerll of Leuenax 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 109.
Ane wryting of the Yerl of Glencarnis 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 109.
He garris the word gang that he hes the Yerll of Huntly, the Yerll Marschall [etc.] 1575 Boyd Fam. P. No. 62 (3 May).
[Tack] by Gilbert Irll of Cassillis … the said Gilbert Ierll of Cassillis c1653 Irvine Mun. II 254.
Item on souldior of the Yearil of Castil