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.
Pud(d)ill, -le, v. Also: puddell. [Late ME poþelon, pothelyn (Prompt. Parv.) and e.m.E. pud(d)le (1593), f. Puddil(l n.: cf. Du. poedelen, LG, Germ. pud(d)eln to dabble or splash in water.]
1. To be pudlit, to be bemired and muddied, to be dragged through or cast into a muddy puddle. Also fig.1540 Lynd. Sat. 4296 (B).
I fell in to ane midding … As I was pudlid thair, God wait Bot with my club I maid debait I sall nevir cum agane that gait 1584 in Calderwood IV 133.
You are alwise puddelled in the same myre 1609 Crim. Trials III 6.
He, falling amangis the said treyis, was pudillit in ane myre, be ȝour servandis 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 22 May.
Scho wes drawin furth of hir bed to ane dub neir hir hous doore in Doning quhair scho wes pudillit and troubillit a1658 Durham Commandments 66.
As a pearl cast before a sow is pudled and abused a1706 Mare of Colinton in Watson's Coll. i 48.
2. intr. a. To dabble or poke about in water or mud. b. fig. To busy oneself (in some activity) in a muddled, disorganised way; to mess about; to sort something out from a confusion or muddle. c. To be in confused conflict.a. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 158.
And thair thow pudlit be ane lang speace … in ane deip holl amongis the watterb. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. (1591) vi Mviij.
Tha multitude … haue … gone to mumchances, mumries, & vnknawin language, wherein they pudled of befoir 1633 Coll. Witchcraft 114.
Let honest men puddle and work as they like 1653 Binning Wks. 346.
Leave a poor soul to puddle it out alone, and scrape its evidences together in the darkc. 1685 Hay Fleming Six Saints I 68.
The devil and I puddles and rides time about upon other; but if I were uppermost again I shall ride hard and spurgaw well
