A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Langald, Langelt, Langet, n. [ME. langald (north., 1394–5), langhaldes (Trevisa), e.m.E. (once) langol, appar. for lang hald lit. ‘long hold’: cf. MLG. lang-, lankhelde ‘long fetter’ (see H. Whitehall Philol. Quarterly XX. 28). ln later Sc. and north. Eng. dial. as langhold, langelt, -let, -lit, langet(t, -it and langol, -al, -el, -le (cf. Langal(l v.). For the various forms of the suffix cf. those of awald, hamehald, knappald (Knapholt) and scherald. (Cf. also Lingit.)] A kind of hobble for a horse or other animal: ‘a tether, or rope, by which the fore and hinder feet of a horse or cow are fastened together’, ‘properly, a rope binding the fore foot of a horse to a hinder one, to prevent him from running off’ (Jam.). —c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 575.
The prince … tuke the destreir And langald him with irn langaldis fast 1515 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. 208 b.
In empcione sex lie langettis ad verudos vj d. Ib. (ed.) 295. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 839.
It is short whyl sinc louse boor langelt [1641, the langelt]
