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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CANGLE, Kangl, v. and n. [kɑŋl, kjɑŋl (Kcb.⁹)]

1. v. “To dispute; to contend in argument; to wrangle; to altercate” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., kangl; Bnff.² 1938; Abd.⁷ 1925; Fif.¹⁰, Lnl.¹, Kcb.¹ 1938); “to cavil” (Mearns 1825 Jam.²). Ppl.adj. canglin', quarrelsome; vbl.n. cangling, dispute, dissension.Sc. 1701–1731 R. Wodrow Analecta (Maitland Club 1843) III. 355:
The Lady applyes to the Commission . . . to determine whither her not hearing her former minister . . . was a ground for debarring her from the sacrement. This brought in great cangling.Sc. 1737 Ramsay Proverbs 77:
Ye cangle about uncoft Kids.Bnff. 1872 Bnffsh. Jnl. (30 Jan.):
But hame whaur canglin' strife prevails, Is nae a hame deserves the name.Slg. a.1875 R. Buchanan in Harp of Stirlingsh. (ed. W. Harvey 1897) 225:
This clan is up, anither's doon, a third is deep in wrangle, Till bearded men are like to fecht, and owre a hair-breadth cangle.m.Lth. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 17:
I coudna live sae wi' my wife In constant cangling, gloom, and strife!Lnk. 1919 G. Rae 'Tween Clyde and Tweed 70:
I was a herd, nae man e'er ca'ed me in When they were canglin' in a land oot-ower.Gall.(D) 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 138:
Efter a' wus ower they joost settl't doon an cangl't an tweelzie't like ither folk.Wgt., Kcb. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
cangle to extricate oneself by argument.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 332:
I'll fight wi' the bodie an' cangle, Till I get him laid i' the mou'd.

Hence (a) cangler, n., a quarrelsome person; (b) canglesome, adj., “quarrelsome” (Mry. 1914 R. Cairns in Bnffsh. Field Club 26).(a) Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 73:
Fy! said ae Cangler, What d'ye mean? I'll lay my Lugs on't, that he's Green.

2. n.

(1) Noise, disturbance. Cf. Cungle, n.²Sc. 1938 J. Gillespie in Border Mag. (Feb.) 30:
Whaur the scaur firs er moaning To the hill burnie's cangle.

(2) A quarrel.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 104:
We baith glowre on dairk, get roosed up, an' syne
cark, cark, cark, as gin we'd some cangle wi nicht
and cried oot: Mair licht! Mair licht!