A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Umel(l, adj. [Var. of Hummil(l adj. 2.] Awnless, lacking the ‘beard’ that terminates the grain sheath of corn. Only with corne (meill), ‘a term applied to the lighter grain of any kind, or that which falls from the rest when it is fanned’ (Jam., s.v. Hummel-corn) hence, mean, poor. —1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 272.
[Complaint … against John Leyes for abstracting the multure, etc., of 15 bolls of oats and] thrie yeirs umell corne … [Decerns … John Leyes for … 3 bolls] umel corne [estimated to 3 pecks 1 cupful] 1661 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 343.
[Patrick Hatlie, miller … complains against the following for abstracting their multures … John Darleing … 12 bolls of victual, oats and] umel [corn] 1661 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 359.
[A peck of] umel corne meill
