Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gangrell, n. Also: gangral, ganger-, gangarall. [f. Gang v. with obscure ending.]

1. A toad. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 544.
For. [= in place of] gold, gangrellis sall be thi gay garment c1500-c1512 Dunb. P. liv. 7.
Quhou scho is tute mowitt lyk an aip, And lyk a gangarall unto graip 1591 Crim. Trials I. 245.
Scho delarit, that sche hard ane woman say, that our souerane lord wald gett skaith be ane taid or gangrell

2. A going-about person; a vagabond. Also attrib. 1530 Aberdeen B. Rec. I. 130.
To walk this gude towne euerye nicht … that na strangearis nor gangerallis cum within the samyn 1538 Ib. (MS) XV. (J).
That na strangearis, nor gangralis puirralis be ressate nor haldyn in this tovnne a1585 Polwart Flyt. 805 (T).
Gleyit gangrell, auld mangrell a1650 Row 457.
His wyfe for povertie turned ane gangrell poore woman, selling some small wares