Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PAIDLE, n.⁴ Also padell, peddle (Sc. 1887 Jam.); pyd(d)le.

1. A small leather bag used by pedlars for their smaller articles of trade, a folder, wallet (Sc. 1808 Jam.); a flat leather receptacle or pouch used by country housewives for holding household oddments, worn at the right side and suspended by tapes round the waist (Sc. 1887 Jam.); a nail-bag (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).

2. The pocket or trap in a fishing-net, esp. that in the small stake-net used for catching flounders, trout, etc.; the net itself (Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. Antiq. Soc. 152). Hence paidle-net, id. (Kcb. 1965).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 390:
Pydles — Cones made sometimes of rushes to catch fish with; they are set, “whar burns out owre the lynns come pouring,” so the trouts, in coming down the stream, run into them, and cannot make a retreat.sm.Sc. 1881 Session Cases (1881–2) 191:
The use of paidle-nets during the salmon fishing season is comparatively recent.Dmf. 1904 Annals Sc. Nat. Hist. 70:
It had been caught in one of the paidle nets near Glencaple at the mouth of the Nith.Dmf. 1959 Dmf. & Gall. Standard (24 Jan.):
The “Paidle” net is a miniature stake net for catching flounders. Its plan is essentially the same as the salmon stake net, but it is more lightly constructed and lower. The pocket of the net is, however, different. Its mouth opens at the bottom into a small barrel-shaped trap known as the “paidle.”