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.
Schule, Schuil(l, Shovell, v. Also: schull-, schuyll, schoull, showle, shooll-, shoole; schowell. [Late ME and e.m.E. schovel(yn (Prompt. Parv.), schole (1540), sholl (1590); f. S(c)hule,n.] tr.
1. To clear (a piece of ground) by removing loose material with a shovel.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1844.
In the snaw he schulit hes ane plane And heillit it all ouer with calf agane 1530–1 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 110.
Quhai that schullis the brig of the Fulbrig [etc.] 1537 Linlithgow B. Ct. 9 Nov.
He … sowpand & schulland the causa perfitlie(b) 1698 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 45.
To shovell and mak clean the corn mercatplace … the said George Gray having the muck and fulyie that he shovells for his own use
2. To lift with a shovel and throw into (in) another place or a receptacle. Also to schule furth.1531–2 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 121.
That na man fra this yeir furtht schuyll ony muk in the ester pull 1565 Inverness Rec. I 129.
That scho vald hald that muk thair in despyte of me … and suld schoull it in at my barne duyr ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 111.
Pugnat muckcreillius heros Fortiter, & muckam per posteriora cadentem In creillis shoollare ardet
b. To schule in, ? to remove from sight, to take out of the way.1579 Documents Relative to the Reception at Edinburgh of the Kings and Queens of Scotland (1822) 22.
To fie pynouris to schule in the muk outwith the West Port 1610 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 73.
That eury man that rynnis out with his pleuche on the medowis schuill in the dichtingis and stanis and lay na middingis theron
c. To schuil doun, to destroy by shovelling away.1562-3 Winȝet II 5/19.
Finalie, to schuil doun thir wallis to the ground
d. To showle out, to remove with a shovel. Also fig.1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 92.
The sun will converte a great ditch full of sea water unto upright salt: that they showle out, fills it again [etc.]fig. 1660 Nicoll Diary 281.
It hes pleasit the Lord to schowell out all impedimentis that hes hinderit the king from his croun
3. To shoole (muck), to take up with a shovel.1660 Kelso Baillie Ct. 57.
To enter to his possessioun … and to lay ane calsey shoole & gather muck thairvpone at his pleasour 1698 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 45 (see 1 (b) above).
