Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Ȝule girth(t, n. Also: Yule gertht, -gerthe, Ȝoill gert, Jovll gyrt. [Ȝule n. and Girth n.¹ 2 b. Cf. ON jólagrið and SND Yule n. 3 (23).] The peace of Christmas; the period of immunity from criminal prosecution proclaimed at Christmas. 1522 Wigtown B. Ct. 133b.
Thom Edgar & his wif callit for strublance of the toun & breking of Ȝoill gert 1531 Wigtown B. Ct. 245b.
Fore trublans … & brakyne of Jovll gyrt 1569–70 Inverness Rec. I 182.
Johne Nobill … for the wrangus drawing of ane knyff … vpon Vphalye daye … for breking of Yule gerthe and trubling of the towne 1570–1 Inverness Rec. I 198 (see Ȝule evin n. (a)).
Yule gertht 1573–4 Glasgow B. Rec. (MC) 2.
For trublance done … within the tyme callit of auld the proclamation of Ȝule girtht and now of abstinence … for trublance done … upon the xi of Januare … within the tyme of the proclamation of feriat tyme and abstinence c1575 Balfour Pract. 279.
Of courtis … He quha hes powar to hald court may tyne … the samin … gif he haldis the court in time forbiddin and defendit be the law, that is to say, fra Ȝule girth be proclamit, quhill efter the halie dayis, viz. fra the sevint day befoir Ȝule unto Uphalie day