Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Cabil, -ill, n. Also: cabyll, -ell, -all, cable; caibell, caible; kabill, kable. [ME. cabil(le, cabell, cable, kable (c 1205), F. câble. See also Capill n.²] A cable. The Latinized cabla occurs in 1263 Exch. R. I. 14.(a) 1428 Exch. R. IV. 433.]
[Pro duabus cabillis emptis 1450 Ib. V. 382.
Pro una magna corda, vulgariter cabil nuncupata, pro magno bumbardo regis 1457 Ib. VI. 310.
Pro una grossa fune dicta cabil, alteri graciliori fune eciam dicta cabill Ib.
De quibus funibus videlicet cablis 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 53.
To Thome Pulti … passand to North Berwic for ankeris and cabillis a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 221.
Our crevist cabillis all at a cast will crak 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 129.
Eftir at the Kingis schip … tynt hir cabillis and odir grayth 1511 Ib. IV. 304.
Tua pecis cabillis of lyne ȝarne 1513 Doug. i. iv. 26.
Perbrakit schippis but cabillis thar mycht ryde Ib. iii. ix. 95; etc.
Bot ȝhe, … fle this cost, and smyte the cabil in twayne 1533–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 66.
That the said schip be weill furnist with ankers and cabills 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. li.
The marineris … cum with ane stark cabill in ane boit Ib.
Of hir skin … is maid strong cabellis 1549 Compl. 40/14.
Than the marynalis began to veynd the cabil, vitht mony loud cry 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7389.
Thay … Raisit vp ankeris, and cabillis in thay drew c1575 Balfour Pract. 640.
The master farther gettis of the ship takin be him … the best cabill and anchor 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 143.
Gif ane schip brelk lows, sua that ancker or cabill beis brokin 1611-57 Mure Dido i. 252.
Men cry, and caibles crack by Boreas beatne c 1617 Melrose P. I. 292.
One of your maiesties schippis, … wes forced to saill ane anker and ane cabill 1648 Wemyss Chart. MS.
Anchoris, caibles, saills(b) 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 246.
For the recompance of ane gryt kable quilk wes borrowit 1586 Edinb. Test. XV. 349 b.
Ankeris, saillis, mastis, kabillis, … quhilk war recoverit of the flie boitt