Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†SKOIL, v., n. Also scoil, skoyl. [skɔil]

I. v. To yell, roar in a high-pitched voice, scream.Ags. 1866 R. Leighton Poems 304:
The Kelpie skoils across the main.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 59:
By a' the skoilin' an' roarin' ever I heard.

II. n. A yell, a high-pitched roar or bellow, esp. of a cow.Ags. 1815 G. Beattie Poems (1882) 34:
Till echo for ten miles around Wid to the horrid scoil resound.Ags. 1855 “Robin” Rimes and Poems 42:
He was startled by a most unearthly skoil, and behold! there stood the cat!