A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Nut-schel(l, -shell, Nute-shell, n. [ME. nute-scale (Layamon), -scell (Cursor M.), noteschale (Trevisa), e.m.E. nutshal (a 1529), nutte-shell (c 1530).] A nut-shell. b. As the type of something of trifling value. c. As the type of something of very small compass, implying very close juxtaposition or intimacy. — c1450-2 Howlat 788.
[He could make] nobillis of nutschellis & siluere of sandb. 1587 Carmichael Etym. 37.
Nauci, of the value of a nut-schelc. Id. Prov. No. 1491.
They schite al in a nute shell 1658 R. Moray Lett. 2 Apr.
I guess we shall both fart in one nutshell
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"Nut-schel n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/nut_schell>
