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.
Quotation dates: 1532-1598, 1699
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Gunhoill, -holl, n. Also: goun holl, gwnhoill. [e.m.E. gunhole (1687 in sense 1), goonhole grote (a 1577).] a. An embrasure. b. Attrib. with angel (the coin).a. 1532 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 145.
Ane blokhouise … with gunhollis and duiris of aistlar 1537 Reg. Privy S. II. 376/2.
To big and have ane hous within the burgh of Banff of palice wys, with barmking, battelling, gun hoillis, and uthiris munitionis 1546 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 463.
For lx pecis of stanis to the goun holl in the castell 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 296.
For careying of ane soll and lyntell fra the mylnis to the goun holl in Leyth wynd 1699 Thanes of Cawdor 393.
To build two kirnalls or rounds seilled ouer the wall, that the gun holl may clenge the futt therof two wavesb. 1598 Acts IV. 175/2.
The particular spaces and peces of forayne gold and siluer … The gun holl [v.r. gwnhoill] angell … at v li.
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"Gunhoill n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gunhoill>
