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.
Tal(l, Tale, adj. Also: tauld. [ME and e.m.E. tal(l, tale (both Chaucer), quick, prompt, ready, active, tall (1530) tall, OE ᵹetæl swift, prompt.] High; lofty; of more than average height or stature from bottom to top: a. Of a tree. b. Of a hat. c. Of a person, or his body. Also in fig. context.a. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 87/45.
The cedars evin of Liban tale and wight He planted hath c1616 Hume Orthog. 28.
It is a tale treeb. 1588 Edinb. Test. XIX 161b.
Tua knap of tall bonnettis at tua merkis the pecec. 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 580.
And all his brethren are tauld of steture, young, and without ony hair on thair faice c1616 Hume Orthog. 9.
In our tongue we have four soundes … they distinguish the verie signification of wordes, as, a tal man, a gud tal, a horse tal 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 230.
Threttie brave tall men with the kingis liverae vpone thair bakis 1644 Petrie Chiliasto-Mastix 53.
The bodie of Christ is not so tale, as that it shal reach from heaven to earth
