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.
*Haslie, Hazlie, Heaslie, a. [e.m.E. haselie (1587), mod. Eng. hazelly, late e.m.E. also has(s)el(l) (1613) attrib. or adj. in same use; of uncertain origin.] Of soil: Consisting of a mixture of gravel or sand, clay and earth. —1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 104.
We have a black yellowish kind of soile. .enclining to a dark reddish colour: this is that which we call haslie ground Ib. 105.
And pure heaslie grund will not answer with this either Ib. 107.
That which we call our hazlie ground, is nothing else but when the soyle has a great mixture with the gravell and some little clay