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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TEEL, v., n. Also †teill(e). Sc. forms of Eng. till, to cultivate (ground). [til]

I. v. As in Eng. (Sh. 1972). Specif. to plough. Used jocularly in 1962 quot.Abd. 1706 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. VII. 17:
Teilleing and harrowing the small riggs and cutt.Edb. 1715 Burgh Rec. Edb. (1967) 292:
Whosover ryves out and teels by their oun march stone without consent of their neighbour.Ork. 1721 H. Marwick Merchant Lairds (1939) II. 19:
Twelve horses for teilling, two for harrowing, and six for leading muck.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 85:
His driver wish'd him wi' the deil, Because at plough he cou'dna teel.Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 45:
We did oor pairt; we teel'd the laund.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 87:
The treasure lay in teelin' weel the grun'.Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 60. 16:
Whin head first I just teeled da grund Richt clap-dad at her feet.

II. n. In phr. out o' teel, out of cultivation (Sh. 1972), uncultivated, desolate.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xlix. 8:
Till stoop the lan' weel, an' the takks out o' teel till tak-up.