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.
Quhorle, n. Also: quorill; Forl. [Late ME and e.m.E. whorlwyl, whorwil, whorle (Prompt. Parv.), qworle (Cath. Angl.), also wharwyl, wharle, appar. varr. of whirl; cf. Quhirl(l n. and v. Cf. also MDu. worvel, warvel, wervel; also Quhorle-bone, Quhorle-wynd.] A whorl: ? chiefly, the perforated stone or lead disc placed on a spindle as a makeweight in spinning by hand. —c1500 Makc. MS xiii 7.
Hoc vertubrum, a quorill 15.. Lord Fergus' Gaist 42.
Ane botene and ane brechame And ane quhorle maid of lame Ib. 75. 1633 Black Bk. Taymouth 389.
For breaking of the glaisin windowis … and melting of the leid of them to be quhorles
