A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Scail,) Scaill, n.2 Also: skaill. (? ME (north.) and e.m.E. scale a maniple, squadron, battalion (c1400, rendering OF eschele), med. L. scala (whence OF eschiel(l)e, eskiele), or ? an early instance of Scailn.1, here = ‘a dispersed company, a scattered party’ (OED). But perh. merely due to misreading of Stale n.1) —1375 Barb. xv 337* (C).
Schir Adam … Saw bot the fleand scaill [or staill; 1571 scaill, H. skaill] perfay And thame that sesyt in the pray Ib. (1571) xv 353*.
Bot than baith forray, and the scaill, War knit in till ane sop all haill
