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.
Kell, n.2 Also: kaill. [North. Eng. dial. kell (1697), more commonly keld (which is also found earlier in place-names), ON. kelda. Also occasionally found earlier in south. Sc. place-names, as Keldeleth (13th c.), Kyldelethe (1250), now Kinleith, Midl., and Kelheid (1516) and Mikkelkeldewelle (1271), now Kelhead, Dumfriessh.] A spring, fountain, head-spring. b. Attrib. in kellhead. —1566 Peebles B. Rec. I. 301.
The
said Stephane Robisoune bindis ... him ... to hald in the watter to Tueid
brig fra the end of the brig west to the kaill heid sufficentlie1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 239.
The Councill finding that the kell of the fountaine head is not so large as it aught to be which … occasiones the scarcitie of the watter … ordaine the thesaurer to caus cast the ground thrie elnes all wayes distant from the springe and Robert Milne to caus to demolish the old kell head and build ane new kell head therupon of sufficent work Ib. 254.
To bring in water from the saids two springs to the main fountain at Comestoun in a lead pyp … and to build a kellhead and cleanging dowells 1676 Ib. 288.
Some … persone that hes skill … in ordereing … of the said water work both as to the kellheads from whence the water springs [etc.] 1683 Ib. XI. 92.
The Counsell grants warrand to the toun thesaurer to repair the kell heads of the additional springs near Toddies well
