A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Snail(l, n. Also: snaile, snayl(l, snale, snal(l)(e. [ME and e.m.E. snayl(e (a1250), snail(l)(e (1398), OE sneᵹel, snæᵹel.]
1. A snail. b. In allusive use, with reference to the snail's slowness.c1420 Wynt. i 820.
In to the Yndys Se, … Snaylys [C. Snayllis, W. Snaillis] gret ar fundyn ay, And men thare makys of thare schelle Lugyngys a1500 Henr. Fab. 94.
I had leuer go skraip heir with my naillis Amangis this mow, and luke my lifys fude, As draf or corne, small wormis or snaillis 1490 Irland Mir. III 140/33.
The snale that beris hir byrding on hir bak can ga na far gate c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) v 10.
Scho met … Ane ask rydand on a snaill 1513 Doug. xiii iv 79.
The snaill [Ruddim. snale] Schakand hir coppit schell or than hir taill … Thristand fast with hir feit onto the wall And ȝit hir hed … Frawart the … flammys fast withdrawys a1538 Abell 6a.
He fand the schell of ane deid snaill of the quhilk he drew the synonis to his eir 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 24.
Limax, a snaile a1688 Wallace Orkney 16.
There is a great snail that hath a bright white stone growing in it 16… Nat. Lib. MS 22.2.11 4th last p.
Putt in, 12 blak snalles and 12 shall snailes and let all boyll a litleb. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 717.
Clerkis … schairp as ony snaillis a1568 Bann. MS 266b/33.
Quhen … every lord settis land but ferme or male And quhen als swyft as swallow beis the snale a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1538.
Ye dryv a snaill to Rome a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 190.
A snaill wil first tak ane hair
2. transf. A sluggard.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 176.
Wes never sugeorne wer set na one that snaill tyrit
