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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tel(l, v. Also: telle(n, tele(n, tellin(g, -yne, -yng, til(l. P.t. ta(u)ld(e, tawld(e, taweild, tallid, tailed, toulde, told(e, teld, tellit, telt. P.p. ta(u)ld(e, taull, taw(l)d, toulde, told, tollit, -ed, teld, telled. [ME and e.m.E. telle(n (c1175), tellenn (Orm), tel(l (both Cursor M.). P.t. tælden, talde(n (all Layamon), tolde (c1250), tald (Cursor M.), teld (Manning), tellyd (1453), telt (1554). P.p. iteld (c1200), itald (Layamon), told (c1220), teld (Cursor M.), telled (Caxton), toulde (1586), OE tęllan.]

1. tr. To relate (information) (to a person); to let (a person) know (something); to relate, recount (a narrative, story, etc.) (to a person or with indirect object).Also to tell a thing (mair, etc.) of the subject of the information or story.Also const. clause object and in parenthetic clauses.(1) pres. a1400 Leg. S. xxi 26.
Hir husbandis bruthyre Hyre lufit … Bot … scho ne wald … hyre husbande tel it til a1500 Rauf C. 45.
The king carpit to the carll … Schir, tell me thy richt name 1492 Myll Spect. 275/27.
Gyf ȝow will leif at eis tell neuer thi counsall to wemenp.t. 1375 Barb. ii 63.
Thai tauld the king than hale the cas a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1448.
The bischope … to this visione tuk gud kepe … & word for word he tald thaim all a1500 K. Hart 450.
Sone Wantownnes he went vnto the king, And tald him all the cais, quhow that it stude 1637 Justiciary Cases I 283.
That schoo knew the outbrekking of the licht horsemen … and tauld it to dyuers of the witnesses(b) 1666 Jurid. Rev. XXIV 16.
Lord Drumlanrig askit … who were the witnesses … ? I told him their namesp.p. a1400 Leg. S. i 79.
To Theophill quhen this wes talde [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2291.
Now haf I tald ȝow myne anoye … And all the awenturis I had c1420 Ratis R. 267.
Thire fyfe wittis I haf thé tauld To profyt the ȝong and the auld c1420 Wynt. v 3061.
Quhen this tyll Constantyne was tauld, Thre legyownys … In tyll Brettayne send he a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 415.
It has bene tauld hym … Your dedis, your dignite, and your doughtynes c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 112/2.
This hindir nycht … To me wes tawld ane windir thing c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 256.
Quhen to the Squyer Meldrum Wer tauld thir nouellis a1578 Pitsc. I 127/33.
Quhen this wictorie was tauld to the kingis maiestie … he lamented sairlie(b) 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 441.
He has told all his counsel to thee, and has lained nothing from thee 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 465.
Let the parts of thair lessoun quhairof they ar to be exameined be told them 1690 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser XV 237.
Their be a centinall all the day tyme at the head of the iron ravell stair at the chancelory chamber least letters and other things may be tolled up to them [sc. prisoners](2) pres. ?1438 Alex. ii 2360.
Quhethir men ask him foly or wit, Till his intent he mon tell [F. respont] it a1450 Fifteen Ois 25.
Sueitlie thame thou confort than, Telland thy panis 1456 Hay I 60/4.
The quhilk war our lang to tell a1500 Seven S. 524.
All that I tell is for ȝour gud c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 71/7.
Sum singis sum dances sum tellis storyis 1513 Doug. i vi 117.
Gif I suld begyn And tell our labour from the formast end 1641 Argyle P. 3.
They tele not the year this man lived or died inp.t. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1441.
Herand the ferlys that he talde, Al ware forwunderit 1456 Hay I 24/12.
Tharefore have I tald all thir tribulaciouns sa that men may clerely se the visioun 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1198.
Of Perseus he tauld the knichtlie deidis(b) 1490 Irland Mir. II 142/37.
The hyrdis & peple that tellit the wayp.p. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 38/3.
Think ȝe nocht ȝe suld Be weill advysit in ȝour governing? Be ȝe nocht sa it will on ȝow be tauld 1513 Doug. i vi 65.
Lang war the iniuris, the dowtis lang tobe tald 1549 Compl. 124/13.
O my natural mother, my complaynt is hauy to be tald a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 330/38.
Mony lesingis … War of me tald(b) c1590 Fowler I 19/4.
Toulde(c) c1590 Fowler I 370/12.
Dreames Moste dreadfull truly teld(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxv 126.
Of this Sancte Julyane … Sancte Gregore tellis sic a thing ?1438 Alex. ii 4802.
Of the presoneris … I can tell na mare c1420 Wynt. viii 3811.
This was bot erlys for to tell Off infortwne, that efftyr fell c1450-2 Howlat 625 (A).
Of the said tre I tell nocht the teynd c1475 Wall. ix 313.
Quhat nedis mor off curtassy to tell?(b) a1540 Freiris Berw. 119 (M).
Of this fayr wyff I will ȝow tellyne mair 15.. Clar. v 2987.
What is thair more to tellin of this thing(4) 1375 Barb. ii 246.
I can nocht tell quhat thai hycht a1400 Leg. S. iii 86.
Schow … tawld how it stud with hyr a1400 Leg. S. x 30.
As I thinke to tel here quhy a1400 Leg. S. xl 1030.
Feile men opynly he telt, & sad that [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1873.
Tolde c1475 Wall. iv 229.
Thir men retornede … told him as thai had seyne a1500 Bk. Chess 1648.
And tald in plane that all this gud began With Gobartis gold and how the gold he wan c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 14/37.
Thou can not him tell Quhen nor how [etc.] a1568 Scott ii 188.
Befoir his curpall wes a crak, Culd na man tell quha maid it 1582 Waus Corr. 242.
Quhidder thai be halkis or terssellis I can nocht tell 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI 146.
Taweild 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 232.
Sche … tauld Patrik Porteous, that he wald leve bot ellevin yeiris 1592 Warrender P. (SHS) II 187.
Toulde 1657 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 138.
He told he wes verie ill payed 1683 Sinclair Nat. Phil. 316.
It man be telled you Descartes valued the history of nature(b) 1576 Orkney Oppress. 79.
The gud man … tailed him that the Laird … had bein thair(5) 1375 Barb. iv 395.
The tyme that James off Dowglas, As ik haiff tauld enbuschit was 1375 Barb. vi 452 (C).
Qwhen Thrilwall … Had yschit, as I tell ȝow heir 1375 Barb. vii 76 (C).
As I tald first, or now I tell 1375 Barb. xvi 512.
As ȝe forouth herd me tell a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 862.
In story as Sygilbertus, Ymang al vthire tellis ws c1420 Ratis R. 247.
As I sal the exempile tell a1500 Rauf C. 906.
To tell him as I haue tauld thé 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1508.
Quod he … I sall do as ȝe haue tauld 1570 Sat. P. x 222.
Ane thing weill knawin, As sen syne tauld sum seruands of thair awin 1608 Sc. Ant. XV 141.
And for my buird I am buirdet as of befoir I tauld yow(b) a1500 Lanc. 494.
Nor hald ws nocht as learis, thoght it fall Not in this mater, as that we telen shall

In alliterative phrases. b. To tell a tale, to recount a story, events, etc.; to recount a false story, to lie. c. To tell the truth. d. (Na) tunge mycht (may) (not) tell (be told).b. a1400 Leg. S. i 136.
Paule … All this taile to Petire tawlde a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1459.
This Mary … [Of] quham til ȝow this tale I taulde ?1438 Alex. ii 279.
Quhan that the king had tald his tale [F. ot sa parole finée] ?1438 Alex. ii 1394.
That tale of me sall na man tell c1420 Wynt. v 1688.
Scho defamyt that abbot hale, And till the mwnkys tald a tale c1450-2 Howlat 95 (A).
I am richt rad For to behald ȝour halynes or my tale tell a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 149.
Quhy I tell thé this taill, tak tent now thair till 1496 Treas. Acc. I 307.
To Widderspune the foulare, that tald talis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2480 (B).
I wald nocht this taill war tawd 1567 Sat. P. vii 4.
Twa leirnit men in priuie I hard talk, And eich of thame his taill in ordoure tauld a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 814 (W).
Behauld For all the tales that he hes tauld, How he himselfe behauesc. c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 12.
He tauld the treutht a1568 Scott iv 14.
I nowdir fleische nor flyte, To tell the trewith a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1141 (Wr.).
I trumped never a man, But truely told the naked trueth c1590 Fowler II 150/15.
Thow will nowayes be displesed albeit the treuth be tauld vnto thé frelie 1603 Philotus 972.
I conjure thé … to tarie, Quhill thow the treuth haue taulld. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 527.
Quhat tunge mycht tel or eris ere 1490 Irland Mir. III 38/37.
Nouthir hert may think na tovng may tell quhow He has creat ws c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxviii 39.
Whos artillary with tonge may not be told

e. With reference to the information or narrative being written, esp. in his buk, in storys, etc.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1794.
Contrar casis … In-to this nixt buke sall be tald c1420 Wynt. ii Prol. 10.
As Orosius In tyll hys cornyklys tellys ws c1420 Wynt. ii 264.
As I fynde in storys eftyre taulde c1420 Wynt. iv 1538.
As in his buk Frer Martyne tallid a1500 Henr. Fab. 43.
My author in his fabillis tellis how [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. II 27/2.
Thir errouris I tell in this buk that men may … enschew thame 1490 Irland Mir. III 38/5.
As Virgill tellis in the vi buk of Eneydes(2) c1475 Wall. iii 72.
As myn autor me teld 1513 Doug. xiii ix 113.
Bot forto tellyng [Sm. telling] quhou [etc.] … Myne author list na mensioun tharof draw(3) 1596 Dalr. II 78/21.
Quhen tydengs war talde, bayth be lettres and messingeres, that the king of Scotis [etc.]

2. intr. (tr.) Const. of the information, etc. related.The personal object in the quots. in (2) is open to interpretation as direct or indirect object. Cf. however, the example quoted at (3).(1) 1375 Barb. i 76.
Thir twa that I tauld off ar c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 11.
And [Jesus] tellit of the greate Supper(2) 1375 Barb. ix 14.
Thai tauld the king of the conwyne Off Jhone Cumyn [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xv 86.
Sik merwal neuir befel As we here ȝow of tel c1475 Wall. i 263.
He tald his modyr of his sodane cas c1475 Wall. i 437.
He … Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this drede c1475 Wall. vi 755.
The duk him tald off all thair jornay haill a1500 K. Hart 146.
The watcheis of the sicht wes sa effrayit, Thai ran and tauld the king of thair intent a1585 Maitl. Q. 52/64.
England is glaid quhen it is tauld Of Scottis the diuisioun(3) 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 15.
Scho tauld to hir of the diseas of hir kow

3. To relate information, make a report; to reveal secrets. Also with a person as direct or indirect object or const. to a person. Also proverb.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 6452.
I sall do mare than I haue tald c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2466 (see (2) below).
Tolde a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 33.
Birkin bewis [etc.] … teirfull quha tellis c1475 Wall. iv 718.
Bot thou tell, in bayle fyre sall thou de c1475 Wall. v 493.
Quhat word of him? I pray you graithlye tell a1500 Seven S. 393.
The empriour bad him tell but dreid a1500 Bk. Chess 505.
Bot gif he tald scho schord hir sone to sla c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 151.
Now fair sister fallis ȝow but fenȝing to tell 1562-3 Winȝet II 31/32.
I wg to tell 1676 Welsh Gospel Summonds 10.
To tell … it would take very much time, and we would but spill it in the speaking too(b) 1657 Johnston Diary III 63.
The Protector … told many would be tilling in our eares … but forbad us to beleive any harsh things against him(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2466.
Thai agane come to Pirrus And tolde as thaime tolde Assandrus 1531 Vaus (1566).
I sall tell the maistirproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1572.
Tel yow and tel aw the toun hennis(3) c1670 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XV 141.
I told also to the Commissioner I rode farder a piece with them, askand at several of them where they would take him to

b. To inform (an audience) on a subject.Where the audience is in direct or indirect object position (see 2 above). 1586–7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 144.
Sho … said unto thame Parturiunt montes nascetur ridiculus mus and tald thame on that tale at lenth

c. To tell on (furth), to begin or continue a narrative.Also with a person as direct or indirect object.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 226.
‘Tel one, deme,’ quod scho a1500 Henr. Fab. 1055.
Tell on the cais, now Lowrence, let vs heir a1500 Seven S. 2581.
Swet son how sa tell on lat se 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2154.
Tell on, ar ȝe content?(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1662.
Than said the king, tell me furth that legent

d. To tell out, to relate, recount something; to preach. c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 278.
He send me to preche to pure men, to tell out [W. to tellen out] to debonir men

e. To tell over, to repeat, recite (prayers). 1653 Binning Wks. 445.
You use to tell over some words in your prayers

f. Of a bell, etc.: To alert by making a warning sound. a1500 Henr. Fab. 499.
Our nichtingall, and als our orlege bell, Our walkryfe watche, vs for to warne and tell

4. In parenthetic use as a means of emphasis. a. With a person as direct or indirect object (see note to 2 above). b. tr. With indirect object.a. a1400 Leg. S. xv 39.
Gais furth, I send ȝou, I ȝou tel, As wolfis amaung lammys vnsel 1513 Doug. v xii 116.
I tel thé thus a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 857 (W).
Tak tent, I haue thee tauldb. a1400 Leg. S. l 728.
It is sic gud, I tell thé this, That [etc.]

5. To here tell, to become informed, to find out or discover (news, etc.), to learn by report. a. intr. Const. of (information, etc). b. tr. Const. clause object. c. With direct object. d. passive.a. c1420 Wynt. iii 1040.
In the mene tyme that this felle, That ye herd off thir bredyre telle 1535 Stewart 27008.
Gif all be trew that I hard of hir tell 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 224.
Pherniherst … hearing tell of his cuming a1578 Pitsc. I 366/14.
Of the quhilk … the nobillis … hard tell alsweill be wreit as be toung ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 4.
The like of it was never heard tell ofb. (1) 1375 Barb. ii 46.
Sa hard myscheiff him fell That ik herd neuer in romanys tell a1500 Seven S. 256.
Quhen thai hard tell the child suld de [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1471.
I heir tell devyne correctioun Is new landit 1570 Sat. P. xvi 21.
Ȝe will heir tell how he thame gydis ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 165.
Dame Marian Douglasse, … hearing tell what extremitye her graund chyld … was reduced too, did send a comissione to Argylle(2) c1420 Wynt. v 41.
That ilk nycht, as I herd telle, In Rome that gret tempyll fellc. 15.. Clar. i 896.
Quhen they hard telling The perrellous passage of Clariodusd. a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 1.
This hindir ȝeir I hard be tald Thair was a worthy king c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 133/72.
Throw all regiones hes bein hard tell

6. tr., absol. or intr. With story, etc. as subject, to reveal or display information. 1375 Barb. ii 82.
Lettres … That tauld how slayn wes that baroun. The letter tauld hym all the deid c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2378.
He hatit this Pirrus … Caus quhy, the story tellis nocht c1420 Wynt. ii 301 heading.
This chapyter schall tell yhow [etc.] c1450-2 Howlat 307 (A).
The forsaid trist quhar the trete tellis Thai fand him c1450-2 Howlat 507 (A).
Till on a time it betid, As tellis the writ 1490 Irland Mir. II 46/1.
The euuangell tellis … that the women saw him ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 64.
As the cronicle will tell c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3774.
The scripture sall thé tell 1639 Johnston Diary I a 51.
Ther came a letter … telling [etc.]

b. transf. Of circumstances: To reveal. 1456 Hay I 292/4.
He is bet in guys of a king, and quhen he is crownyt takis bot a croune allanerly, but mare, na nocht telland quhat vertue he is of 1558-66 Knox II 408.
Experience hes tauld us what creweltie lyis in thair hertis

7. To foretell. 1375 Barb. iv 684.
Samuell Joell and Ysai, That at throw his haly grace gan tell Fele thingis that efter fell c1420 Wynt. viii 5353 (C).
At Creichtone Deyne syne, qwha couythe tel, Ane ponȝane of were befell 1456 Hay I 43/25.
A prophetes … talde mony mervailous thingis of the tyme tocum 1490 Irland Mir. II 44/17.
Jhesus tauld his apostlis his passioun and the maner of it 1574–5 Acts III 87/2.
To haue knawlege in … palmestre … quhairby they perswade the people that thay can tell thair weardis deathis and fortunes 1616 Misc. Maitl. C. II 189.
She still continewit dumb going about and deceaveing the people, synding telling and foir shawing thame … quhat they sould do

8. tr. To summon (a person). 1456 Hay I 197/6.
He tellis till him ane of his chief bondis … and chargis him [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 130/16.
He admittit nor tellit sic men to his consall

9. a. To enumerate, list, mention (objects, persons, etc.); to make an inventory (of a ship).See also Numerat ppl. adj. 1 and Numerat v. 1 for further examples.(1) 1375 Barb. i 295.
He sa fele off harnys sched That nane that lyvys thaim can tell ?1438 Alex. ii 3230.
Than callit the duke quhom he sa wald, In tale tweluesum wer thay tald ?1438 Alex. ii 10885.
Thare meissis to tell war our lang baid; Ȝe may weill wit yneuch [thay haid] c1420 Wynt. ii 547.
Jacob … browcht in wyth hym, taulde and sene Thre scor off bodyis and fyftene c1420 Wynt. iv 1346.
Elephantis tauld thrys tene 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 547.
Mony entrappit steid … Mony pattrell neruit with gold I tald c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 64/27.
Quhair I of a joy cowth tell I culd of truble tell fyftene c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 129/27.
I … Unworthy … in thair nummer to be tald a1568 Pedder C. 52.
He tellis thame ilk ane caik by caik 1595 Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. I 145.
Gef thair be … in ane pynnok of skynnis or ane cordat viii^xx or ix^xx skynnis they ar nevir tauld, bot as the custumar and merchant aggreis amangis thame selfis will set and esteme thame to i^c skynnis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 39.
He relaxit all the preasoners before tauld, condamnit persons and uthers from captivitie c1650 Spalding I 296.
Frydday, 3rd July, thair wes told, … about 28 schotis of cannon 1662 Stitchill Baron Ct. 25.
That none within this barrony lead any of their cornes unteynded … but that it be told and teynded yeirly(2) 1555 Dundee B. Ct. III 19a (17 Dec.).
To produce Dauid Jakis buke clerk of the said schip quhilk he tollit … [to] preif the contentis contenit in James Durhammis clame

b. To count (out) (money). Also const. doun.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xii 270.
He is master to thame sald, For thretty pennys to hym talde 1474 Stirlings of Keir 248.
Williame of Striueline … to pay and content to me … in money novmeryt and tauld … upone the hie altar of the paroch kyrk of Logy 1480 Macleod P. MS (Reg. H.).
It sall be lesum to the saide William master of Catnes to tell & nwmyr the saide some apone the saide altar 1488 Treas. Acc. I 85.
Gottin in a box … and tauld in presens of the Chancellare … thre hundreth rois nobilis a1500 Seven S. 2598.
Thai him sauld For twenty merkis of penneis tald 1528 Lynd. Dreme 985.
Lordis of Religioun, thay go lyke Seculeris, Taking more compt in tellyng thare deneris Nor thay do of thare constitutioun 1563 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 12 June.
Arthure Weir … saw Richard Barry pay viij merkis in plackis babyis & hardheiddis and tald it on his cloik 1571 Prot. Bk. A. Millar 9b.
The said James … comptit nowmerat and tauld the sowme of thre hundreth merkis 1584 Perth B. Ct. 5 June.
The haill sowme of fyve hundreth and four scoir markis vsuale money of this realme numerat and tauld 1587–8 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 15 Feb.
To se the said vii hunderit merkis nwmert & tauld & to resawe the same 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 209.
Every man thinketh he is rich enough in grace, till he take out his purse, and tell his money 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 9 July.
They … resolve to goe to Robert Dungaldsones hous and tell the money(2) a1538 Abell 116a.
The Inglis men … promist a gret sovm of gold to the gubernatur … Bot quhen the message come for it thai tauld it down to him bot thai lut him nocht haif ane penny awa 1581 Rec. Earld. Orkney 302.
The sowme of aucht poundis usuale monie of Scotland tauld doune and delyverit to me be the said Williame in numerit monie 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 327.
The said John Forbes … did … number and tell downe the said sowme 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 20.
No, says the Pope, not a drope, till ye tell down money

c. To mark (the passage of time). 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 313.
We should tell the hours carefully and look often how low the sun is 1660 Lowrie God Save the King 18.
It is like the palme of the horologe to tell the time