Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Strug(g)il(l, Struggle, v. Also: strugl(e)-. P.t. also strugeld. [ME and e.m.E. strugle(n, struggel(en, (both Chaucer), struggle (1569).] To struggle, grapple, contend (physically) (with a person or about a thing). Also const. to do (something).(1) 1604 Crim. Trials II 449.
The said Johnne Kincaid lay struggilling and fechting in the panes of daith vnder him 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS 19 Jan.
Duncane Andersone ringer of the bellis hed laitlie drawin … [the] woman … in to the kirk and strugillit and pressit to haue lyne with hir thair 1638 Justiciary Cases I 292.
Boithe went to the ground togidder quhair thai struglet ane lang space 1686 Inverness Rec. II 340.
He saw all the fornamed parties strugleing and in handie grips and Findlay Fraser reding them(2) 1624 Perth Kirk S. MS 17 June.
The said William … strugillit with hir reiff hir cloithis pressing to haue forssit hir 1681 Inverness Rec. II 288.
He refused to obey the said officer in any terms to go to prison, and strugled with him and the rest of the officers(3) 1679 Kingarth Par. Rec. 118.
They strugled about a sheep drawing it the one from the other till they killed it(4) 1600 Crim. Trials II 318.
Bot all wold not serue; for he strugeld to stabb himfig. 1690 Account Persecution [Episcopal] Church in Scotland 65.
The Episcopal clergy … had rather sit silent under their malleur than struggle with the stream