A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Ale, Aill, Ayll, n. Also: al, all(e; aile; ayl(e, ayill; aell, aeill, aeil, aiell; eall(e, eill, ele, elle. Cf. Ȝeal. [ME. ale, ONhb. alu (WS. ealu).] Ale.Frequent in burgh records in regulations as to the price.(a) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3621.
Quhen Alysandyr oure kyng wes dede, … Away wes sons off ale and brede Ib. viii. 3439.
Thai send to Perth for wyn and ale 1458 Peebles B. Rec. 128.
That ony brosstar that brack prys … [sal pay] a galon of al 1466 Acts II. 86/1.
Payment for brede & Ale & vther merchandice 1488 Acta Conc. 98/2.
x ferlottis of malt in ale 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. 230.
The breid, all, flesche, fische, … and vtheris victuallis 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 50.
That ane of the balyes … pas tweys in the weke … to cowne the alle Ib.
Quhare the ale is nocht worth viij d. 1614 Rec. Earld. Orkney 382.
To the belman for belis ringing, graif making, drink, and al(b) 14.. Acts I. 310/2.
The boll sall contene a sexterne, viz. xij gallonis of aile 1450 Edinb. B. Rec. 12.
That na man or woman brew aile to sell derare than for vj d. 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 343.
For ix pip and ane thrid part of ane twn of aill … Item, for the tume pipis to put this ail and thair watir in 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. li.
The pepill [of Orkney] … makis the starkest ail of Albioun 1548 Treas. Acc. IX. 196.
Gevyn ane barrall of aill to the boitmen to caus them row fast 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 261.
Now drink thay Mylk and Swaits in steid of Aill 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 85.
Saying opinlie, scho came thair to get part of thair drink, becaus it vas better nor hir aill at hame 1617 Acts IV. 538/1.
Single and double Aill to be brued in everie schyir 1650 Peebles B. Rec. 422.
To Bet Govanes man … two bread and ane chappin of aill Ib.
Ane pynt of aile Ib.
Fyve pyntes aille 1668 Aberd. B. Rec. 249.
Tavirnerris and uentineris of aill and wyne(c) c1475 Wall. v. 1036.
Bath breid and aylle, gud wyne and othir stor Ib. vii. 342.
With Irland ayle, the mychteast couth be wrocht 1485 Liber Coll. Glasg. 196.
The Prior … sal geif ylk Frere … a galloun of gud ayll to thair collacion 1545 Reg. Privy C. I. 3.
That the Provost … putt ordour and pricis upoun … flesche, breid and ayle 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 6.
The vj regentis euery man thre chopins of ayl … dayly 1579 Misc. Bann. C. II. 88.
The cuik, stewart, portar, and pantriman, ilk ane of thayme … , ane pyint of ayl the day 1663–4 Irvine Mun. II. 267.
Five chopins of wyn, … 5 chopins of ayll(d) 1526 Stirling B. Rec. I. 26.
In sellin of xvj d. aiel contrar the statutis 1563 Lanark B. Rec. 32.
That na aell be sald derrar nor iiij d the pynt 1629 Ann. Banff I. 61.
That guid and sufficient aeill be browin and sauld within the burghe 1679 Colquhoun Chart. 293.
To buy … pales for wyne, aell, and brandy(e) 1553 Ann. Banff I. 30.
That na eill be sauld bot for xijd. the galloun 1583 Sat. P. xlv. 479.
Gar pay me for my eall 1600-1610 Melvill 168.
A rubber of starke Merche eall 1655 Lamont Diary 115.
The exceisse … on wyne, tobacco, beire, elle 1662 Crim. Trials III. 605.
Whan we tak away the strenth of anie persones eall, we tak a little qwantitie owt of each barrell or stand of eall c 1690 Cromarty Corr. I. 68.
Ther is litl ealle drunk in his house or myne
