A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1650
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Dele, Deil(l, n. Also: dell(e, deile, deyll, deale, deall. [ME. dele, deel, del, etc., OE. dǽl. North. and north midl. ME. ilk dele, ilk a dele, ilkadele, ilk a delle (a 1300). Common in early verse.]
1. A part or portion; a bit or whit.Chiefly in phrases used adverbially, esp. na dele, nocht or never a dele, and ilk(a) or everilk dele, every whit, altogether, wholly entirely. See also Half-dele, Sum-dele.(1) 1375 Barb. x. 625 (E).
Ane … said, ‘Away, I se yow weile’. The quhethir he saw thaim nocht a dele a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 321.
Drede na deile. For I sal helpe thé wondire veill a1400 Ib. xxx. 456.
He the monk knew na dele c1420 Wynt. viii. 6744.
The Inglismen had na deile Cowerit hors ?1438 Alex. i. 932.
I nor myne lufis him neuer a deill ?1438 Ib. ii. 4930.
Men may find weill Sum men that can nocht greif a deill Ane man [etc.] c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 926.
He … Kest doun his sper, and sonȝeit nocht a deyll c1475 Ib. xi. 1164.
This helpys nocht a dell c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 48.
Ane blist band that bindis so fast That none vndo it a deill may 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 117.
As to the text accordyng neuer a deill 1535 Stewart 220.
Sen he wes borne ȝit saw he neuir a deill(2) 1375 Barb. xvi. 326 (E).
He mycht haiff conqueryt weill The land of Irland ilka dele 1375 Ib. xvii. 667.
He to-fruschyt hyr ilk dele 1375 Ib. xx. 166 (E).
Quhen this wes done ilkadelea1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 736.
Scho tald hyme … Al that he saw thare ilke delea1400 Ib. xxxiii. 732.
I persawe wele Thi gilry euir-ilke dele c1420 Wynt. v. 28.
Thai … kepyd welle All the lawys ilk delec1420 Ib. v. 2137.
Swa the destyne wes welle Fulfillyd and haldyn ilke delle c1420 Ib. 3846.
Ourepassyd thai dayis ilka dele c1420 Ratis Raving 648.
Scho is of powar … To get al forgevyne ilka deill?1438 Alex. ii. 2468.
Ȝe can richt wele Record of lufe euerilk dele The stoundis?1438 Ib. 2968.
Maugre the chaissaris ilka dele?1438 Ib. 3093.
For to encheif or purpose ta, Outher in part or ilka dele?1438 Ib. 3433.
My sheld is bendit ilka dele ?1438 Ib. 4023.
Alexander and his men ilk deill Cummisa1500 Henr. Orph. 520 (A).
He … gart the god eite wp his flesche ilk dele c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iv. 452.
The [sper] schafft to-brak ilk deyll a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 873.
His spens was als large As of befor euerilk deile 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 35.
As I schaw sall the veritie ilk deile 1513 Ib. iii. Prol. 31.
This text is full of storys euery deill 1513 Ib. iv. ix. 63.
Scho hes hir command done ilk deill1535 Stewart 11720.
Thir gydis all … Saiffit thame self fra drowning euery deill 15.. Clariodus ii. 103.
Clariodus all wnderstud at ryght, Palexis had tauld him ever ilke deale 15.. Ib. iii. 2148.
Schawing everie deill Thair grit infortoun
2. (Ane) grete dele, a large number or quantity. Usu. adverbially = greatly, much.?1438 Alex. ii. 10927.
Of maydinnis and of ladyes great deill Assembled war 1513 Doug. xiii. vi. 123.
Thou, far bettir, and gret deill worthiar To bair the riall ceptyr 1562-3 Winȝet I. 3/24.
We … exhort the latter marinaris … to lat down ane grete dele thair hie sailis a1568 Scott xxxvi. 31.
I salbe clengit … quhyttar than the snaw gret deill c1650 Spalding I. 221.
Whiche war ane gryte deall moir satisfactorie to ws then his writtin declaratioun
3. A part or portion. = Dale n.2 2 and 2 b.1564 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 53.
To requyre Superintendents to be placed … in the Mers, … Tweddall, and the rest of the deales in the South not provydit 1600 Acts IV. 241.
The cottaris deallis, and aucht akeris of land occupyit by the fischeris of Ferne 1633 Ib. V. 125/1.
The tua dealles of land lyand betuix the lands of Grainge and Haltounehill
4. Dealing, intercourse; = Dale n.2 4 (esp. 4 c).1490 Irland Mir. I. 73/6.
Thai ar nocht strenȝeit ane of thame to haue fleschly deill with wthire a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1216.
The king … said that him behufit than For hele haf deile with a woman c1515 Asloan MS I. 198/2.
The devillis tuke liklynes of men and had carnale dele with tham 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1254.
Wee will haif na mair deall with thé Then with the Queene of Farie 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 279.
He hes grantit that he had carnall deyll wyth hyr 1595 Logie Par. Hist. I. 80.
The said Iames and Agnes haid carnall deall togethir
