A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1456, 1513-1683
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0]
Snell, adj. Also: snelle. [ME and e.m.E. snelle (c1150), snel (c1200), snell (Cursor M.), obs. except north. Eng. dial. after Caxton, OE snel(l swift, quick, etc.]
1. Of weather, etc.: Keen, bitter, sharp, severe. Also fig.1375 Barb. iii 377.
Sa hard anoy thaim then assayit, Off hungir, cauld, with schowris snell c1420 Wynt. iv 1488.
Haylstanys bath scharpe and snelle 1456 Hay II 132/7.
The wyndis ar scharp and snell and sare bytand 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 139.
Chyvirrand for cald, the sesson was so snell 1535 Stewart 10785.
The snaw so snell ay dryvand with sic drift 1535 Stewart 15231.
Winter come to hand … With wynd and weit, and mony schouris snellfig. 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 96.
A snell aire of seeming discontentment that the Parliament would sit longer then was looked for
2. a. Of a weapon: Sharp, keen. Also in fig. context. b. Of a conflict, etc.: Fierce, ferocious.a. ?1438 Alex. i 1063.
Emynedus sa sturdely Help him-self with waponis snell That [etc.] c1590 J. Stewart 47/161.
His sourd so snell 1639 Baillie I 114.
We have battered down Rome, … the walls of Amsterdam I wish might hold in their snell brasen shott from these places of our towres that are most weakeb. ?1438 Alex. ii 4615.
Sik ane hurching … That men micht lykin it was sa snell To tempest that fra cluddis fell c1420 Wynt. vii 1980.
A batell fell wes dwne bathe sare, and scharpe, and snell 1535 Stewart 12339.
The archearis … schutting that wes so scharpe and snell c1590 J. Stewart 67/77.
So force and furie of this knycht vas snell
3. Of a person: Sharp; severe.c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iv 184.
[To] caus ladeis to … be haldin … Baith odious, and snell as ane serpent 1683 Sinclair Nat. Phil. postscript p. 319.
Though I have been a little snell in this reply
4. Of a bird: Powerful in movement.1596 Dalr. I 25/20.
Thay [sc. gannets] ar sa snell and suift of flicht that … thay ar fund twa myles and oft tymes mair frome the craig seiking thair pray
