Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ARLE, ERL, ERRLE, v. [ɑrl Sc.; erl, ɛrl m.Sc., s.Sc., Uls.; ærl + jɪ̢rl s.Sc.]

1. Engage for service or confirm a bargain by payment of a sum. Most common modern use of word. Also vbl.n.Sc. 1704 Household Bk. Lady G. Baillie (S.H.S. 1911) 130:
To arle Margrat Robison — 10s. [Scots].Sc. 1708 Caldwell Pap. (Maitl. 1854) I. 211:
She was recommended here by a physician, a very honest man . . . and I errled her.m.Sc. 1976 Walter Perrie A Lamentation for the Children (1977) 17:
Oh haste ye wife up tae the manse
for the chiel he maun be arled at wance,
... The kirk has never yet been blate
at the arlin o a collier. Fif. 1894 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xxiii.:
As he sees his neebors ane after anither fee'd an' arled.wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 142:
"If I'm arled I can start the day. I dinnae need to be back to Kilmaurs." Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch The Laird's Lykewake, etc. 81:
My furniture has grown sae much that I'll e'en need to gang An' arle, for comfort's sake, a big twa-room hoose richt or wrang.Gsw. 1991 Anna Blair More Tea at Miss Cranston's 88:
So Christina Rodger was 'arled' to Commlongen Castle and into a long life of Service.Arg.¹ 1928:
Ah wuz erld tae her.Rxb. 1868 D. Anderson Musings 6:
He held out the shilling to arle the bit wench, In case it should enter her noddle to flinch.

2. Secure a right to anything by some preliminary action or service.Ags. 1894 A. Reid Sangs o' the Heatherland 67:
An' man an' maid, to arle rest, Join in a glad Amen!Hdg. 1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons, etc. 81:
My fortune's eithly spey'd — A sair-trasht plooman's wife, arled for the grave!Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems and Songs 154:
While there the heav'nly vow I got That erl'd her my own.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch The Laird's Lykewake, etc. 15:
Few folks amang the leevin Had better richt to arle heaven.

3. Punish, thrash.Bnff.(D) 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 215:
Arle, v.a., to beat with severity.Bnff.² 1932:
If I hid a haud o' ye I'll arle yir riggin for that.

4. To accept arles, to enter into the service or employment of, used fig. in quot. = to become engaged to marry. Cf. Arled. Edb. 1864 W. Fergusson Songs & Poems 71:
Wi' sic a withered stick as you I wad be laith to arle.