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.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1472-1513, 1622-1626
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Capill, n. Also: capyl, kapyll. [ME. capil (c 1290), capel, caple, etc. , Sc. and Ir. Gael. capull, capall, horse, mare.] A horse; in later use spec. one used by a cadger. (Chiefly poetic.) c1420 Wynt. i. 1024 (W).
Than wild and wod for thai meris Waxis thai capillis c1420 Ib. 1037 (R).
Fra the capylis sudanly The kynd ethchapys habowndanly 1472 Peebles B. Rec. 168.
The nychburis … decretyt to kep Kadmowr to kow and kapyll 1472 Ib. 169.
Thai ordanit that kow and kapyll … sal gang … in Russalsqham abone Kadmour wod a1500 Henr. Fab. 2020.
With that ane cadgear, with capill and with creillis, Come carpand furth a1500 Ib. 2082. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 43.
Ane cant carll … With ane capill and twa creillis cuplit abufe a1500 Ib. 114; etc.
The ane of ȝow my capill ta c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 355.
The cappill, that the crelis kest in the caf mydding, Sa curtasly the cart drawis 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 42.
The cadgyar callis furth his capill [R. capyl] 1622-6 Bisset II. 293/22.
He had a capill roip tyed about his nek
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"Capill n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/capill_n>
