Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hals, v. ¹ Also: hause. [e.m.E. halse, ME. hals (a 1300), f. Hals,n. or ad. ON. halsa.] tr. To put the arm(s) round the neck of (one), to embrace. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3501.
The King thame leued and halsed thame [F. les a acolés] raith c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 68/16.
I haue committit syn … with the partis & memberis of my bodye, halsand, kissand, clappand, & brasand c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxii. 9.
He braisit hir bony body sweit, And halsit hir with his fordir feit 1513 Doug. i. x. 57.
Quhen scho … gan thé forto hals and to enbrace Ib. v. xiii. 10.
Brasand and halsand thai dwel al nycht and day 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. ix.
To hals and brais with mony lusty kis 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 179.
To come nigh Christ and hause Him and embrace Him