A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Pole, Poill, n.2 Also: pool; pol(l; poyll. [ME and e.m.E. pool (Chaucer), pole (a 1450), L. polus end of an axis, pole, also (poet.) sky, from the Gk., axis, OF pole (1372 in Hatz.-Darm.; mod. F. pôle).] a. One of the celestial (north and south) poles. b. The, or a, pole-star. c. The North Pole.See also Artik adj. and Antar(c)tic adj.1513 Doug. v xii 102.
As the dirk nycht Rollyt hys cart ourthourt the polys bricht Ib. xiii Prol. 67.
I se the poill and eik the vrsis brycht Ib. iii viii 153, viii Prol. 150.
Poyll 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 751.
Syne, nyxt the poill, the plage septemtrionall 1535 Stewart 2985.
To consider … The eleuatioun of the poll … With compas [etc.] 1549 Compl. 47/15.
Cosmaghraphie … sal declair the eleuatione of the polis, and the lynis parallelis [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 3.
Qvhen Eolus … fra poleartike come doun [etc.] 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx 134.
The storme approches quhen the poills are fairest a1605 Montg. Flyt. 441 (T).
Be the pollis [H. polles], the planeittis, and singis all tuell c1590 Fowler I 156/4.
The tuinkling starrs in firmament dois schyne, Decoring with the poolles there circled spheres a1605 Montg. Son. ii 3.
Huge host of hevin in restles-rolling spheers, Firme-fixit polis whilk all the axtrie beirs
