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).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AVAIL(L), n.

1. Worth, value; property, means.Sc. 1747 Nairne Peerage Evidence (1873) 79:
The goods and gear following of the availls and prices aftermentd.Ags. 1719 Private Paper (per Fif.¹):
The adequat and agreed price worth and availl of the said Tenement.Lnk. 1838 McIlwham Papers Letter i. 11:
What's the avail o' yer innocence, whan the innocence o' a haill kirk o' martyrs can get nae protection frae the calumnies o' Jesuits and priests.

2. Avail of Marriage. (See quot.)Sc. 1890 Bell's Dict. Law Scot. 80:
Avail of Marriage, was the sum formerly payable to the superior by the heir of a deceased ward vassal, on his becoming marriageable.Sc. 1932 A.C.M.:
Abolished along with the Tenure of Ward 20 Geo. II. Cap. 50.