Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Weil(l, Weel(l, n. Also: weile, veil, weyll, weele, wele, vele, well, (wall). [ME and e.m.E. wel (Orm), wele (Cursor M.), welle, weel (both a1300), OE wǽl, MDu. wall, MLG wel, Flem. weele.] A deep pool in a river or a narrow part of an estuary or the sea; a whirlpool. Also fig.Some examples may rather belong in Wel(l n. with which there is some ambiguity.(a) c1475 Wall. vii 488.
Sum … The wattir socht … In the furd weill, that was bath wan and depe, Feyll off thaim fell c1500 Rowll Cursing 272 (M).
All the theiffis in hell sall startill Lyk to ane gade of yrne or steill That doun war sinkand in ane weill [B. weell] 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. 203b.
The borow akyris … Item the weyll abovne the fvk furd at is pertenand to ye folk furd set to Patrik Myr fore xii d. 1531 Bell. Boece I xlviii.
Quhen the schippis ar saland throw thir dangerus veilis, oftimes thay ar … drownit … The gretest vele heirof is namit Corbrek 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 26.
Sir Jhone Cunygam … settis the tan half of his bait gangand apone Sant Katrynis weill in Clydisholm to Wylyam Pumfra 1586 Prot. Bk. J. Merser 4b.
Direct vp and wast the middis of the myr to the weill callit pitcher weill alias the guidwyffis weill 1587 Carmichael Etym. 8.
Gurges, a weil 1588 Reg. Great S. 531/2.
Cum piscationibus … ac cowbill-salmound-fischeing et weillis earundem 1593 Ayr Chart. 123.
Illam gurgitem vocatam lie Craigweill de Grenane 1587-99 Hume 32/211.
To … see Endlang a riuer … The … forme of euerie tree Within the deepe appeare? The salmon out of … creils Up hailed into skowts The bels and circles on the weills, Throw lowpping of the trouts 1634 Wedderburn Gramm. 12.
Weile 1658 Retours I Inq. Spec. Ayr (506).
Fisching upon the watter of Stincher commonlie called the fisching of the weills(b) c1500 Rowll Cursing 247 (B) (see (a) above). 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Gurges, a weele in a water a1688 Wallace Orkney (1700) 179.
Claudian … seems to have in his view the rocks and weels in Pightland Firth(c) 1513 Doug. vii i 13.
Tybir flowand soft and esely, With sworland welis [L. verticibus rapidis] and mekill ȝallow sand 1513 Doug. viii ii 64.
Baith nycht and day ilk man … Can spend … with irksum lauboryng, The lang stremys and welys [Sm. wallis] rovnd sworlyng Our slydyng fast vpwartis the ryver(d) a1688 Wallace Orkney 7.
The Wells of Swinna, which are two whirl-pools in the sea 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 139.
Some dangerous wells or whirlepools … are nigh unto [this island] 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 142.
The Wells of Swinna … are like unto whirle-poolesfig. 1638 Lundie Poems 38.
Thryse happie ladie, quhose vnmached vorth Invits this fishere to frequent yovr weill