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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.

Col(e-heuch, Coil-, Coal-heuch, n. Also: huch, hugh, etc. [Cole n.¹ 4 and Coll n., Heuch n. (q.v. for forms).] A heugh or bank from which coal is dug; a coal-working or coal-pit.(a) 1414 Bk. Carlaverock II. 418.
In muris, in marras, … in pete-erde, in colehuch … and al vthir proffitis … that pertenis … til the forsaidez landis 1488 Reg. Great S. 369/2.
Assedando dicto Geo. carbonarium seu le colehuch regis in Ardyngaith prope Linlithqw 1489 Acta Conc. 115/1.
The wrangwis … vptakin of the proffitis of the coleheuche of the said manis 1501 Ib. MS. X. 169.
Ane continuale coleheuich liand and laubourit within the saidis boundis 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 232/1.
The coleheuch of Skeoch and landis pertenyn thairto 1520 Wemyss Chart. 144.
The cole, colehewis, canesalt, and pan malis of the Wester Wemys Ib. 145.
Geif the said Dauid … makis ony cost … apon the said colehewis, owther in durris, wynning, … or uthir expens 1565 Rec. Earld. Orkney 279.
Peitis, turffis, colis, cole huchis c 1620 Sutherland Corr. 363.
Now concerning your cole hugh (which decayed before I returned home from England … ), I do advyse yow to put it fordward againe 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 237 (J).
This year of God 1598 the cole-hugh was found besyd Broray … This cole-hugh wes first found be John, the fyfth of that name 1671 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
The lands, houses, coales, cole-heugs [etc.](b) 1460 Exch. R. VII. 48.
Onerat se de xl s. de firmis de le Colhuch de termino Penthecostes 1461 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 362.
The forsaide landys … wyth … colhewys, petis, tvrfis, mylnys [etc.] 1503 Lanark B. Rec. 13.
To the colyair at socht the collhewcht 1505–6 Treas. Acc. III. 87.
To Andro Matheson, to the colheuch wynnyng in Falkland 1556 Prot. Bk. T. Dalrymple 43 b.
I … feit ȝow to laubour in my colhuch 1600 Reg. Privy C. VI. 170.
[The pursuers having promised that they] sould not … waist and destroy the saidis coillis and colhewis 1638 Aboyne Rec. 281.
All … peits, turves, colls, colheuches [etc.](c) 1489 Prestwick B. Rec. 118.
Geue it sall happin me or thaim to nocht optene coilis nor coill huchis nor wyn nan … in the said bondis 1517 Fife Sheriff Ct. 70.
The actione & cause persewit … tueching the wranguis occupacione … of ane coyle heucht in the said landis 1543 Reg. Privy S. III. 41/2.
Schir Iohnne Polwort, … greve of the coilheuch of the landis of Bonytoun c 1560 Crosraguel Chart. I. 154.
The xl. s. land of Cragocht with the coilhucht of Ȝallowlie 1584 Prestwick B. Rec. 80.
The foirsaid bailȝeis … ratefies and approwes the tak and assedatioune … maid be thame of coill and coilhewchis 1590 Crim. Trials I. 186.
Dilatit of the casting of Jonet Archibald, hir awin barne, in ane coilheuch, of purpoise to haif drownit hir 1609 Conv. Burghs II. 270.
Bruce of Airth and certane other gentilmen quha has coilheuches win vpoun the Water of Forth 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 131 b.
They quha sets fire in coilheuchis, vpon privat revenge and despit, commits treason 1641 Acts V. 509/1.
Wattermen quho leaves & drawis watter in the coilhewghisattrib. 1568 Orkn. & Sh. Rec. I. 165.
Terrarum de Cowperland [in Stirlingshire] alias Coilhewchtburn nuncupatarum 1611 Reg. Great S. 177/2.
Super monte carbonario lie coilheuchhill(d) 1592 Acts Jas. VI (1597) c. 146.
For the better punishment of the wicked crime of setting of fire in coale-heuches 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 72.
This impost and dewtie to be upliftit be the … awners of the coale-hewes and salt pannes a1646 Spotisw. Practicks 38.
The coal-heugh was in the lands perteining to the Lord Sommervil 1650 Glasgow Chart. II. 20.
That saxe pund land … with the coallis and coal-heuchis being within the saidis boundis 1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 98.
The magistrats … discharge the coallheugh of Bonhard from furnisheing of the burgh of Linlithgow 1675 Sutherland Chart. 206.
To … sett downe coalheughes, sinkes, eyes, levells, wayfaires … for wining and digging of coalls