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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Peril(l, -el(l, n. Also: perr-, peir- and -ile, -yl(l, -yl(l)e; -ele, -eill; -al(l, -ale, -aill; -aell; (peruell). [ME. and e.m.E. peril (Ancr. R.), perille (Rolle), perel (c 1375), -eyl (1450–80), F. péril (10th c. in Littré). Cf. Parel(l n.] Peril, in the usual senses and applications.

1. Danger, jeopardy, risk.Const. of the person or thing endangered, that which threatens danger or the nature of the danger, or to (till) suffer death or misfortune.A common collocation is with Appere v. and its derivatives.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2177.
Demephone … Eschaped out of gret perrile [: exile] c1420 Wynt. i. 1347.
Thair fwde sall turne thame to peryle [:quhyle] Ib. vi. 1579.
Perylle Ib. vii. 2411.
Weris dowtis and gret peryle [C. peryl] Aperand wes in to that quhille 1456 Hay I. 60/13.
Thai … never ar affrayit for perile that may fall Ib. 115/19.
Intyme of perile c1475 Wall. iii. 395; etc.
His men all samyn he out off perill brocht a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 466.
By men of were but perile thay had past c1575 Balfour Pract. 273.
Quhair the beist or uther thing may … without peril or perturbatioun enter in court a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 893.
Youth never casts for perrill(b) 1375 Barb. i. 93.
Haid ȝe wmbethocht ȝow enkrely Quhat perell [Wynt. (R) peryle] to ȝow mycht apper Ib. iv. 725.
Quhatkyn perell apperis To thame that haldis kyndly maneris 1409 Exch. R. IV. ccix.
Gif ony … persavis ony maner of grefe skath or perele apperand til other [etc.] c1420 Wynt. iv. 785.
But perell c1420 Ratis R. 383.
Gud quantice That is discret … To fle perell and wyne profyt c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2915.
Fair language garris men oft chape gret perrell [: tinsall] a1500 Henr. III. 106/18 (Makc.).
In that stait [sc. youth] grit perel now I see c1475 Wall. i. 342.
For gret perell he wyst apperand war 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 296/1.
Without prejudice danger or perell to be imput to the said Jhone … be the Kingis heines 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 114.
Four veychmen to vaik for all kynd of perell in the toun a1568 Bann. MS. 269 a/8.
Sic perrell lyis in paramouris a1578 Pitsc. I. 32/17.
Perrell 1601 Elgin Rec. II. 96.
The Sessioune perceiving gryt perell … within the kirk itself by … hoiking under the kirk vail(c) 1483 Misc. Spald. C. II. 253.
Skaith [etc.] … or appeyrrand perral to his persoune [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. II. 140/32.
To keip thaim fra seknes or perale ?a1500 Obsecro 81.
Perrall 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 27.
Heirfor nethir delyt in perral nor temerariouslie incur the samyn a1578 Pitsc. I. 297/4.
The Quen of Scottland … setting all danger and perall assyde left hir ȝoung sone … in the casteil of Stirling c1600 Medical Recipes 94 b.
Dais of gret perall(2) c1420 Bute MS. fol. 174.
Thai [the seamen] aw to schaw to the chepmen the perel [Harl. parrell] 1456 Hay II. 102/29. c1460 Regim. Princ. 49 (March.).
Al the plicht and perel [D. perale] lyis on thé a1500 Seven S. 192.
He spak becaus he knewe full wele Be his science the gret perell 1496 Acta Conc. II. 23.
The perell that micht happin to him throw evil … cumpany c1500 Harl. MS. 4700 288 b.
To vndirgang & vndirly ane assis of purprisioun & vsurpacion with the perrell that efferis of law 1542 Acts II. 422/2.
Jhone … nocht knawand the perrale that was to follow tharupoun [sc. a confession] [etc.] 1545 Anal. Scot. I. 210.
The danger & perell that aperis in this realm 1551 Hamilton Cat. 94.
He that luffis the perrel mone peris in the same 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 510.
If not I see the perell large greatar than ever it was 1562-3 Winȝet I. 38/6.
For not schawing our brotherlie lufe to thaim in admonising of thair erroure and perrell 1580 Douglas Chart. 279.
His skaithe herme perrall 1622-6 Bisset II. 226/14.
Quherefra they departed in respect of the perrell and dangare foirsaid 1639 Dunkeld Presb. I. 376.
The perrell imminent to our kirk(3) 1375 Barb. v. 525.
In gret perell than wes the king Ib. ix. 402.
Quhen sic a knycht … Into sic perill has hym set [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i. 286. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 119.
Gif he has na gud soyt & sufficiant he is in perell 1456 Hay I. 85/6.
Quhat perile that ever he be in a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1305.
Perell c1475 Wall. xi. 815.
He spillis so mekill blud Off Crystin men puttis saullis in peraill [: haill] a1500 Seven S. 1576.
Allace my douchter how Into sic perell I fynd ȝow now 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 38.
In quhou gret perrell … All other materis lyis now c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xix. 40.
Perrele 1567 Acts II. 550/1.
He put his persoun in perrell and dainger and alssua gretlie superexpendit him self 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii. 55.
Or than thy pallat ly in perrell 1571 J. Maitland Ib. xxvii. 41.
Thow will putt all intill apperand perell 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 131.
Peraell a1585 Polwart Flyt. 793 (T).
Craig in perrell … quyt the querrell or be schevin a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 5.
All is not tint that is in perrill(4) 1535 Stewart 54678.
And wald he nocht on his awin perrell beid a1540 Freiris Berw. 517 (B).
Gif thow dois nocht on thy awin perrell beid 1542–3 Orkney Antiq. Soc. III. 51.
Excep we come on owr awne peruell(5) 1490 Irland Mir. II. 21/27.
I myster nocht to declar thir errouris for perell of sempil pepill 1600-1610 Melvill 133.
The … extream perrell of the comoun-weill(6) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
In grete peryle of thaire lyvis for famysing 14.. Acts I. *92/2.
All thocht he be … in perall of lyff and menbryce 1456 Hay I. 287/32.
The grete perile in the quhilk he puttis him in bathe of body and of saule c1515 Asl. MS. I. 216/26.
& mony hurt in perell of thair lyf 1558 Crawford Mun. Invent. II. 78 (12 Mar.).
Quhairthrow that we may nocht trawell for the perrell of our life 1562-3 Winȝet II. 70/32.
With extreme perel of æternall saluatioun 1563 Dunferm. Ann. 211.
Quhairthrow it is in great danger and perrell to the saidis complanaris of their lyvis to enter [etc.](b) 1627 Justiciary Cases I. 74.
To the effusioun of his bluid and peirell of his lyfe(7) c1420 Wynt. vii. 1635.
All the kynryk in peryle Off Ingland wes in to that quhylle c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 5/22.
Quhilis it cummis … be debait perrill of watter or vther way 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 346.
Because of the perell and danger of this seiknes now being in this realme 1533 Bell. Livy II. 232/2.
Nocht standing oure neir the sey to resaif dammaige be perell of oncouth flotis a1538 Abell 87 a.
First considdir the perell of prelatioun 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII. 358.
Exponyng his persoun to perrell and danger of the saidis thevis and lymmeiris 1595 Aberd. Pynouris 68.
And uther girnell guid subject to the perrell off weyt and rayn(8) c1420 Wynt. v. 607.
[He] in tyll perylle wes off dede 1456 Hay I. 174/7. 1494 Acta Conc. I. 364/2.
Hurting in perell of ded of twa dochteris 1513 Ib. MS. XXVI. 22.
Now we ar in dayly juperty and perele of … slauchtir 1517 Sciennes Conv. lxxviii n.
And hurt the Laird of Keir to the perrill of deid 1551 Hamilton Cat. 245.
Deliverit … fra the dangear and perrel of hel a1578 Pitsc. I. 156/11.
Hir schippis was scatterit and in perrell of drowneing 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 116/5.
Uithout perrell of thaire brewing any truble to youre estaite Ib. 130/4.
Be sydes the perrell of the euill education of youre children 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 160.
Gif hir depositioun … wald haif brocht on thame the peirell of the cryme of treasone 1637 Banff Ann. I. 79.
Thair boitis … are … in perrell … of … breaking(9) 1375 Barb. xiv. 358.
Thai in perell war till droune 1456 Hay I. 175/23.
That he be in perile to be maid outhir crepill … or to dee utterly a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1088.
I dreid not the pereill [: quarrell] To dee in this cace a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xliv. 94.
Put not thy self in perrell for to peres

b. It is … (grete) peril or (grete) peril is, (it) is dangerous.Const. (for) to do something, also without complement.Also const. of some outcome, = the outcome is in hazard, is unlikely to take place.(1) 1375 Barb. ii. 253.
It war all to gret perill In playne bataill to thaim to ga c1420 Wynt. viii. 1762.
And enpresowneys in swilk qwhille To kepe is dowt and gret peryle c1450-2 Howlat 98 (A).
Bot apon natur to pleyne it is perell a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xiii. 26.
Greit perrell is for to pas our the ferrie Into ane lekand bot Id. Maitl. F. xiv. 51.
Grit perrale is to tak on hand the ruther(2) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1307.
Had ony preiudice apperit in the partyce It had bene grete perell c1475 Wall. i. 412.
Gret perell was giff thai had lestyt lang 1535 Stewart 29760.
Quhair perrell wes he sparit nocht till go(3) 1375 Barb. xiv. 75.
Quha hapnyt in that ficht to fall It was perell of his risyng

c. Rendering, or answering to, legal Latin periculum, the hazard of loss of goods bought or borrowed.As falling upon the person in possession at the time of the loss. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 117.
Of the perel of thing bocht & saulde [L. De periculo rei empte] 1533 Acts Sederunt (1790) i. 22. c1575 Balfour Pract. 210.
Gif … ony thing that is bocht and sauld … be tint [etc.] … the peril and skaith thairof … redoundis to him that is possessour 1681 Stair Inst. i. xi. § 2 (1832) 107.
The whole peril of the thing lent, after delivery, is the borrower's et ejus est periculum cujus Ib. xiii. § 2 (1832) 122.
That the horses … were upon their master's peril Ib. xiv. § 6 (1832) 134.
Sale being complete … the peril is not the seller's

d. In various legal formulae. = Risk or danger of penalty or punishment.(1) 1426 Reg. Great S. 11/1.
Wnder the payn off perel that efter folowys and al that yhe may tyn enent ws c1650 Spalding I. 6.
That none sould … intertyn onie of thame wnder gryt panes and perell Ib. 264.
Under all hiest pane and perrell(2) 1497 Acta Conc. II. 92.
Till avouch the sade waist land with the perell of law as thare propirte in commone 1500–1 Acta Conc. II. 492.
Under the perell of the law thairapone folowand 1561 Dumfries B. Ct. 6 b.
To bettir the said land … vndir perell & proces of law(3) 1512–13 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 140.
Se that the samyn be done as ye will ansuer to ws at your vtter perrell 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 60.
As thai will answer upoun thair … utermest charge and perrell 1597 Skene Verb. S. (1599) s.v. Feodum.
At their vttermost charge and perrel c1650 Spalding I. 272.
Chargeing all maner of man at thair hiest perrell to mvster the morne 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 232 (1 Nov.).
As ye will be answerable upon all heigest peitell 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 25 Mar.
To make particulair intimatioune heirof wpon his perrill 1687 Inverness Rec. II. 349.(4) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 57/20.
I tak on hand to preue on perrell of my lyfe [etc.] 1564 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I. 4.
Under the pane and perrel of all his landis 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 84/2.
To … keipe the peaxe … upon the perrell of thaire craigs 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 61.
Upone perrill of their lives and fortuns

2. An instance of this; a peril, danger or risk. Also plur. in collective sense. = 1.(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 559.
Off the perellys that passyt war Ib. v. 60 (C).
Peralis 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Ȝoure … honorable leaute … wil defend me fra sic perilis c1420 Wynt. iv. 216.
He … so stratly luwyd That perelys as playis he pruwyde Ib. viii. 1768.
Peryllys 1442 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 307.
For mesing & stanching of the peralis & ewyll beforsaide [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 84/17.
Seand the perilis of dede before his eyne Ib. 84/20.
And he that assailis is full of ire inflammyt and has na knaulage of the perilis bot dois [etc.] Ib. 127/15.
To sauf a man fra perilis a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 99 (see Cast v. 18 b). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 161/32.
The haly name of Jhesu … ourecummys all peralis a1500 Seven S. 22.
Perellis 1549 Compl. 130/24.
The perellis & dangers that maye succed fra coniurationis ar vondir grit Arundel MS. 284/166.
Defend ws … fra all perallis of saule and body 1604-31 Craig i. 33.
Thy … patrocinie in perels(b) ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) ii. 7604.
Men … put thair bodeis in perrellis seir To … fulfill his deid 1513 Doug. i. iv. 70. Ib. iii. x. 111.
That thou eschapit samony perrellis huge Ib. xiii. v. 30.
Into sa gret perrellys 1548 Prot. Bk. Sir Wm. Corbet (S.R.S.) 7.
[He] said it is a bruckill wardill and mony perrellis occurand 1560 Rolland Seven S. 191.
Perrellis to cum sa perfytelie to knaw a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. clxxvii. 23.
Perrallis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 506 (W).
Quha vsis perrellis perrisch sall 1594 Charteris Pref. Wall. in Misc. Bann. C. III. 170.
All fantasies and perrilles welterand thus in his mynde 1626 Garden Worthies 16.(c) 1678 Rothesay B. Rec. 360.
Peirils(2) c1460 Consail Wys Man 335.
Forse a perell ore it cum c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 68.
Till byde till age is mony perrell sene 1513 Doug. xii. v. 18.
Into sa gret a perrell … A sylly sawle to put 1535 Stewart 4487.
And speciallie quhen thair apperis ane perrell [etc.] a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xvi. 102.
Quhair is the zelous men and wyise … That … ane greit perrell could prevein 1592 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II. 174.
As the parelling of ather of thame caryis a like perrell to thame baith 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 102/9.
Exposing rashelie youre person to euerie perrell 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I. 163.
It buir that his Majestie wes delyuerit out of ane perrell 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 123.
It may ingender ane greit perrell to the peipill [etc.](3) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1278.
This child … wyst rycht noucht off this perylle Ib. 2105.
For that thai tholyd that peryle a1500 Henr. Fab. 317 (Bann.).
Cum till ȝour meit; this perrell is ourpast 1562-3 Winȝet I. 3/19.
For the quhilk perrel we now mair effrayit than we and thay wes for the vther may not [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 116/26.
That he micht gif him instructioun and learneing quhow he suld invaid that gret perrell