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 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unfald, v. Also: unfauld, -fould(e, wnfalde, onfald. [ME and e.m.E. vnfeold p.t. (Layamon), unuold(en (Ancr. R.), vnfold (Chaucer), OE unfealdan; Fald v.¹] tr.

1. To open, spread out, unfold. 1580 Hume Promine 92.
Obedientlie begouth than to vnfald The beiraris bricht, thair flouris to his eis 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv Pref. 45.
The plesant plane-trie will the leavs vnfauld With fairest schaddow to save the sone in symmer c1590 Fowler I 54/188.
Hir hair … All shaking softlye by the winde which dois thair tres vnfoulde c1590 Fowler I 313/40.
Quhat chose to mak of chaingin hews Or thame ȝour hands vnfould 1614 Crim. Trials III 302.
Denyis, that evir he saw the band vnfauldit, at ony tyme, sen he wryte it

2. To display, disclose; to reveal. 1513 Doug. x xiv 158.
Down swakkis the knycht … Foundris fordwart flatlyngis on hys spald, Ourquhelmyt the man, and can hys feit onfald [Sm. onfald; Ruddim. vnfald] 1586 Maxwell in Paisley Mag. (1828) 386.
The authoris name quha will haif tawlde … I think na schame it to wnfalde c1590 Fowler I 29/64.
His speaches than and freindlie words … did quickly than this muche to me vnfould [: ould] c1590 Fowler I 197/5.
As one quhome trembling feaver hathe ortayne … Euen so in love suche passions I vnfould, Now frost, now fyre [etc.] c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxiii 8.
The braith quhilk dois out of hir mouth proceid Dois moir than flouris a sweitar smell vnfauld