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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hall, Haw, n. Also: hal(le, hale, haul, hawe. [ME. haule, hal (14th c.), hall, OE. hall, heall.]

l. A large and spacious building, esp. one which is the residence of a magnate.Found early in the place-names Blachall (1329), Halton (1345–50).(a) 1364 Rot. Scot. I. 883/2.
Robertus atte Halle, mercator de Scotia a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 363.
Thane to sek hyme, mony ane Passit til Ewfamy[a]nis hal Ib. xxx. 756.
That hal That bricht wes … As the son on dais licht c1420 Wynt. iii. 456.
Sampson … Led in to that mekyll halle c1450-2 Howlat 141.
He … ay will haue entre In hous and in hall hie a1500 Henr. Fab. 589.
The feyndis infernall, Quhilk houndit doun wes fra that heuinlie hall 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 93.
For the byggin and reparacion of the Hwnt Hall 1501 Ib. II. 82.
To the quareouris … that wynnys the allowring to the Hall of Strivelin c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxv. 76.
Trywmphale hall, hie tour royall Of Godis celsitud(b) 1445–6 Haddington Corr. 233.
[His lands … of the] new Havle 1455 Exch. R. VI. 22.
Johanni et Thome de Haul(c) c1475 Wall. xi. 668.
Quhill that ye cum down to Ranoucht Hawe [: knaw] 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 118.
To Lylle for resschis to the Haw off Lythquow 1496 Reg. Great S. 492/1.
A gabulo aule nuncupate le Erle David Huntlintoune Haw 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1697.
In hous and haw [: saw]

2. A hall or principal room in a building, esp. that of a palace, castle, monastery, etc.For further examples see Bour 1, Chalmer 1.(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1071.
In-tyll hys halle, apon a day, The burdys [being] wndyr clathis sete 1428 Liber Aberbr. II. 58.
The said abbot sal haf ostillary within the forsaidis tenement … that is to say hal, chawmyr, kechyng, and butre a1500 Rauf C. 152.
He stakkerit thair with all Half the breid of the hall c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 14.
With few coursis into ȝour hall, But cumpany of lardis and knychtis 1513 Doug. xiii. ix. 11.
Amyd the hallys heich, lang and braid, Apparalyt at all devys 1550 Glasgow Prot. I. 18.
The foir uvyr hows, viz. hall, chalmer and wairdrop 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 648/1.
In the bakgalrie behind the hale Ib.
In the gryt hall of the auld luiging 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 253.
Ȝon carle … all prouisioun hes … in hall, girnell and seller 1596-7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 94.
Thow ... past ... throch his hall to his inner chalmer(b) 1478 Peebles B. Rec. 184.
Jhonet … [h]as sawld … for fawlt … of hir leffyng … the peralyn of the haw 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 185.
For a basing and eware to the Kingis baw 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1007.
The Emprice … went doun to the haw

3. A public market-hall. (Cf. Halis n., Hallis n.,) Also attrib. with maill. 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 168.
That nane … presvme … to tak ony meill furth of the commoun hall, to be sauld in ony vther pairt of the town, bot that the same be sauld and mett within the said commoun hall 1641 Stirling Chart. 149.
Pro stationum locis et aularum censibus, lie stand roume et hall maill

4. Attrib. in sense 2, with amrie, chimley, flure, windo. 1517 Treas. Acc. V. 120.
Trein werk … for the gret hall windois 1527 Ib. 325.
Canwes to cleith hall windois in Halyrudehous 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10227.
Now I will mak ȝow snre Quhilk man it was that sat on our hall flure 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 7.
For saxtein tries … to the hall fluir 1659–61 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 606.
For 6 crampetts to the hall amrie 1671 Lamont Diary 224.
The brace of the hall chimley was painted att the tyme

b. Hall-benk, -bink, common in the proverb, hall benkis ar … slidder. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2600.
Bewar in welth, for hall benkis ar richt slidder a1500 Prestis of Peblis 614.
Hal binks ar ay slidder 1597 Calderwood V. 659.
Bewar, my brethrein, for hall binkes ar slidrie 1622 Lett. Eccles. Affairs II. 699.
Hall binkis ar sliddrie, … and earthlie courtis ar kittill