A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Devale, -vail, Devall, v. Also: devaill, deval, dewall, diuall. [Late ME. devale (Caxton), OF. devaler.]
1. intr. To move downwards; to descend; to sink or fall. Also fig.(a) 1456 Hay II. 129/24.
Sa … the sonne fra thyne furth deualis agayne bakwart in the firmament 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 48.
Thy transitory plesance quhat auaillis? Now thair, now heir, now hie and now deuaillis Id. Æn. vii. Prol. 24.
Fludis monsteris … Fro the tempest law in the deip devalis Ib. xiii. Prol. 30.
The day [began] to dyrkyn, declyne, and devaill c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 413.
Thy dolf hart for dredour ay deuaillis a1586 Lindsay MS. 71 b.
To beleve that his saule deualit into hell to deliuer his freindis(b) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 84.
I sawe ane ryuer … Devalling and falling into that pit profound 1606 Craig ii. 155/14.
These euer-flowing limphs, From Hyppocrene which diuall 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 53.
The waters mighty heap, Which … tumbling down devals into the deep
b. To bend down, stoop.1513 Doug. x. vii. 58.
As onwar he stowpyt, and devalyt, … Pallas hym keppyt … on hys brand
c. To drop down a river.(1607) Melvill 711.
We tuik boitting the 2 of July; and devallit towardis our schippe with verie sorrowfull heartisa1651 Calderwood VI. 660.]
[They tooke boat the secund of June, and devailed toward a shipp
d. To slope, to form a declivity.1632 Lithgow Trav. v. 210.
This Petrean countrey it selfe, devalling even downe to the limits of Jacobs bridge
2. tr. To bend down, lower (the head).1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. liii.
Euerie wicht … Thankand greit God, their heidis law deuaill
3. intr. To cease, stop, leave off.15.. Clar. ii. 164.
Fra laughter then ilk ane could neer devall
