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 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JOWL, n., v. Also joul. [dʒʌul]

I. n. The knell or clang of a bell.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel x.:
The dinner-bell is going to sound — hark, it is clearing its . . . throat, with a preliminary jowl.Rxb. 1833 A. Hall Sc. Borderer (1874) 29:
Will none o' ye gie the bell another joul?Lnk. 1883 W. Thomson Leddy May 4:
The deid-bell rings wi' solemn jowl.

II. v. Of a bell: to toll, knell.s.Sc. 1811 A. Scott Poems 143:
O leeze me on thee, winsome bell, Thou cantie joulin thing.Dmf. 1837 T. Carlyle New Letters (1904) I. 58:
The funeral bell never ceased jowling here for week after week.Edb. 1892 J. W. McLaren Sc. Poems 3:
The auld kirk bells were jowlin' lood, An' thrang was the hie and laigh road.

Fig. in phr. to come jowlin', to come thick and fast, one after another, like the strokes of a bell.Dmf.⁸ 1933:
They [the fish] come oot aneth the broos fair jowlin', the water jist beelerin' ower the line, and my wand bent like a half-mune.