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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.

Harl, v.¹ Also: harle, harll(e, harrel(l, harril. [Midl. and northern ME. harle (c 1290), of unknown origin. After the 14th c. northern and (chiefly) Sc.]

1. tr. To drag: to drag (a person), forcibly, violently, or roughly; to drag (a prostrate person, or a thing) along the ground. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 442.
Thai harlyt hyme one to presone c1420 Wynt. viii. 2115.
The schyrrave be the throt he gat, And that hey stayre he harlyd [C. traylit] hym down a1500 Henr. Fab. 1453.
Thow suffer sall ane schamefull end, … Vpon the gallous harlit be the feit 1498 Acta Conc. II. 103.
[He] tuke and harlit the sade Wilyeame … with ane cord under ilkane of his oxteris to his place of Lochquhabir c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxii. 52.
As theif to hang, Thai harlit him furth with raip and corde 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 50.
In his hand … , Harlyng hym efter his litil nevo Ib. viii. iv. 64.
Onto hys cave ay bakwartis by the talys, … he thame harlys and tralys 1529 Rec. Earld. Orkney 59.
Thai … drew and harlit thame on force furth of the samyne [sanctuary] nakit 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 298.
Thay war harlit out be the heid 1533 Bell. Livy I. 85/27.
Thai harlit the samyn [trees] in the streme of the foresaid ryvere 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 238.
Sche wald never mary wyth James Beynstoun, and thai suld harll hyr at ane hors tayll 1608 Crim. Trials II. 566.
Quha haifing refuiset to gang with ȝow, ȝe maist forceablie harrillit hir doun the streit 1624 Ib. III. 573.
The defunct was harrellit be the heillis af the landis lybellit 1638 Henderson Serm. 486.
To harle thee to hell 1644 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VIII. 101.
Harling and drawing us … to prison 1665 Ib. 3 Ser. II. 106.
He … gave order to … his footman … to harle her from the door - 1664 W. Guthrie Sermon 21.
It may be ye be forced to harle a pick to a battel 1685 Sinclair Satan's Invisible World 255.
The devil harle your soul through hell

b. Without complement specifying the direction: To draw or drag along. Also absol. a1500 Henr. Fab. 765.
He harlit him, and out he drew his flane 1507 Prestwick B. Rec. 40.
Wylȝem Haifwery accusyt Allane Leppar that he wrangwisly … wald haf tane ane odyr manis speid fra hym, & harlyt hym & the spaidabsol. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1600.
Threllys, both bownd or carle, That oysyd before to bere and harle

c. fig. To take or bring, esp. by compulsion, or against one's will. 1513 Doug. ii. x. 204.
Gyf thou lyst pas, … thi self to spill, Harl ws with thé in all perrell quhar thou will c1590 Fowler I. 221/3.
Vpon the vtmost corners of the warld, … Quhaire fates and fortoune hither hes me harld 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 437.
It is ane mervell to see ... how that slave will be harled fra ane sin to another 1638 Henderson Serm. 451.
He ... strave against it als mickle as he could ... yet he was harled and drawn to it by the power of his corruption c1650 Spalding II. 412.
Thir persones wes no covenanteris; bot harlitt out sore aganist thair willis to fight aganist the Kingis lievtennant

d. To draw or drag in a vehicle; to draw (a vehicle).(1) 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 55.
Besse Symsoun … was put in ane cart and harlet throw the samyn [town] 1581 Burne Cath. Tr. 167/12.
Be banising, impresoning and harling thame on sleddis 1593 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 504.
For ane corbell to mak ane slipe to harle the stanis 1746 J. Row Sermon 2.
Ye shall see the prydful prelats harled up and down the town in coaches, as in … muck cartes 1720 Stirling B. Rec. II. 356.
For harling Jean Gilmer to the shore on a slid(2) 1658 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 404.
The boddie of the cairt alon [to be] harled by the hors

2. a. To drag or trail (a tired or injured limb). 1513 Doug. v. viii. 95.
Darhes His trew companȝeouns ledis of the pres Harland his wery lymmis Ib. x. xiii. 88.
Mezentyus menȝeit drew abak, Harland hys leg quharin the schaft stak

b. To trail (a long garment); also intr., to go in dragging or trailing garments. c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 88.
I think sic giglottis ar bot glaikit … , Harland thare claggit taillis so syde — c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxix. 29.
Lairdis in silk harlis to the [h]eill. For quhilk thair tennentis sald somer meill

c. To scrape or rake, to clean of mud or dirt. 1670 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 145.
The magistratis … charge all the indwellers … that they … upon everie Saturnday caus harle and sueip the streit of all filth