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

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

Holl, v. Also: hole. [Var. of Hole v. after Holl n. and a. Cf. How v.]

1. tr. To dig; to get out of the ground by digging. 1532 M. Works Acc. II. 26 b.
To Thome Myller vj dais vagis for holand & wynnand clay 1613–14 Ib. X. 3 b.
Thrie dayis holing vp of the roittis of the tries 1636 Misc. Spald. C. V. 225.
Persones … holling the tries or firr … gif … any of them hapins to win or holl ony firr within thair corne rigs 1663 Melrose Reg. Rec. II. 67.
[None are to] holl or cute broome or whynes 1673 Ib. 317.
Certane stoanes alledged [to be] hollen [sic] and taken away 1676 Forbes Baron Ct. 305.
[To] preserve … the moss grownd … that there be no firr nor aik holled therin

2. To make a hole or holes in. Also, to pierce. Also intr. (a1570-86 Dunb.) Maitl. F. xxxvi. 185.
With hurkilland bonis holland [B. holkand] throw the hyd 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 9.
The devil borrows another man's heart ... and he has ... holled it and dung the bottom out of it 1644 Glasgow Chart. II. 623.
To lay his said … vent to the said compleinars gavell, and not to slap or holl the samein 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 421.
[The fleschers] wakines the skinneis and holles them a1661 Rutherford Lett. (1660) No. 177.
Communion feasts, the remembrance whereof ... holleth my heart 1670 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 146.
That no fleschoures … cutt or holl any hydis 1689 James Canaries Sermon East Church St. Giles 30 Jan. 31.
Neither have ever any vermine holl'd the throne more than these flattering parasites