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.
Quotation dates: 1561-1564
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Ursell, -all, n. [e.m.E. orchell (1483), orchall (1532-3), archal (1678), OF orchel the red or violet dye, orchil, obtained from certain lichens.] The name of some dye. ? = Orchardlit(t n. — 1561 Old Dundee I 52.
That na birsall nor ursall … be put on na manner of wool nor claith heirefter 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 187.
That na fals cullour be brissell, vrsell, aller barkis … be vsit in tymes cuming 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 187.
Thai [the litstars] nor nane of thame in ony tyme cuming sall lit ony maner of cullouris of muster de villois, Frenche gray or russattis with brissell or vrsell
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"Ursell n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ursell>
