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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1500
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(Swingill,) Swyngill, v. [ME and e.m.E. swingle (c1325), swyngylle (c1462), MDu. swinghelen, f. swinghel (ME and e.m.E. swingle (c1325) etc.) a swingle, a wooden instrument for beating and scraping flax, etc.] tr. To beat or scrape flax. — a1500 Henr. Fab. 1829.
The carle pullit the lyne [= flax-plant] … And with ane bittill knokit it and bet, Syne swyngillit [Bann. scutchit] it weill, and hekkillit in the flet
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"Swingill v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/swingill>
