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.
Arable, Arabil, a. Also: arrable, -ible; arrabill. [ME. arable (c 1410), L. arābilis, f. arāre to plough.]
1. Of land: Fit for ploughing.1493 Acta Conc. 294/1 (landis nocht arable nor lawborable). 1511 Dunferm. B. Rec. 359 (twa aikkirris of arabil land). 1541 Edinb. B. Rec. 109 (thair arrable croft lyand within the wallis of the toun). 1592 Ib. 57 (the pece arabill land at the Seynis). 1602 Reg. Great S. 486/1 (the arrabill landis wnder the hill). 1673 Lanark B. Rec. 195 (wpon any arrible ground).
2. Used for drawing the plough.1577 Edinb. Test. V. 200 b (xij arabill oxin). 1579 Ib. VII. 313 (thrie arabill oxin).
