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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FARDEL, n.¹ Also fardil, fardle.

1. A three-cornered cake, usu. oatcake, gen. the fourth part of a round (Mry., Bnff.², Abd.², Slg.³, Edb.¹ 1946). Cf. Farl.Abd. 1744 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 145:
Six cakes from a peck of meal and 4 fardles from each cake is the usual produce.Sc. 1746 Lyon in Mourning (S.H.S.) I. 170:
A junt of butter betwixt two fardles of bread.Sc. 1791 Mrs Frazer Practice of Cookery 158:
Divide the [shortbread] paste into four quarters . . . and cut it through the middle, so as to have two fardels out of each quarter.Bwk. 1801 “Berwickshire Sandie” Poems 83:
We canna for our verra bloods, Expect that fardels frae the clouds, Or cakes, or scones, will come in thuds.Lnk. 1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 165:
Being applied to by some famished drovers for a fardle or cake of household bread.Fif. 1882 “S. Tytler” Sc. Marriages I. vi.:
Though I suld ha'e to set up a bottle and a kebbock an' a fardel o' cakes on my ain account.Fif. 1938 St Andrews Cit. (29 Jan.) 3:
Roast beef an' tawties, veal an' ham, Wi' butter'd fardles, tremblin' tam.

2. With extended meaning: a large slice or piece, a lump, esp. of eatables (Mry.¹ 1925; Bnff.², Abd.⁹ 1945).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 44:
He got a great fardil o' cheese an' bread till's aifterneen piece.