A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wissel(l, -il(l, -yll, v. Also: vissill, wisl-, wyssill, -yll, wishill. [MLG, MDu. wisselen, wesselen, weslen, ON vixla. Cf. 18th c. Eng. wirsle (c1700).]
1. tr.To exchange for something else; specif., to wyssyll lyvis, to kill one another, to destroy each other.1375 Barb. xii 582.
Mony men of gret valour With speris mas and knyffis And other wapynnys wyssyll [MS wyssyllyt, C. vissill] thar lyvis 1513 Doug. ix iv 92.
Heir is … A forcy spreit … Quhilk reputtis fair to wissyll [Sm. wyssill, Ruddim. wissil], apon sik wys With this honour thou thus pretendis to wyn, This mortale stait and life that we bene in a1585 Polwart Flyt. 598 (T).
Appardoun me, poettis, to alter my styil, And wissel my wers, for fylling the air
2. To change (money).pres. 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 274.
He gafe ane rois noble and ane uthir pece of gold to the said Williame Lawsones wyfe to wissell quha gave him for the littill pece xls and for the said rois noble iiiili 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Cambio, to wissill or change money 1635 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 45.
That they sall not wissel his majesteis coyne with any other forrane coynep.t. 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 274.
The … steling … fra James Hay … of … twa angell nobillis … quhilk … he wislit in Williame Lawsonis in the Cannogait the ane with his dochtir and the uthir with his wife 1580 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 133.
The juges ordanis William Stenesoun to deliuer to James Doddis … xxv s. money for thre Inglis testanis he hes of the said Williames quhilk Cwmynghame wissillit with the said William 1610 Crim. Trials III 92.
Ȝe wissillit ane of the saidis peces of gold … in an oisler-hous … and ȝe was thaireftir apprehendit, and challenget wisselling sum vther of the saidis pecesp.p. 1483 Acta Conc. II cxxx.
The some of viij Henre nobles quhilk the said Issabell allegit scho laid in wed to him for xxiiij li. of blac silver, and was wissilit and changit be the said Johne, and nocht laid wed 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 352.
[Broun having confessed the delivery of the said seven £5 pieces to Robert Arnot … ] to be wissillit and not in payment of ony his debtis
b. intr.Of money: To be changed.1593–4 Acts IV 49/2.
Bot quhaireuir ony of the same [sc. money] may be apprehendit thaireftir, changeand, wissilland or payand debtis or blokis 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 509.
[To appoint persons on the ordinary market days to] searche and try quhair they may find ony of the said decryit money wisselling or payand ony debtis or blokis
3. tr.To exchange, bandy (words).(a) 1571 Bann. Trans. 202.
Be thy letter … thou seames … to wishill wordis in our querrall(b) 1571 Bann. Trans. 210.
I resaved thy letter … wisland and multipliand wordis, as hes bene thyne accustomed maner(c) 1603 Moysie 131.
Some wordis wer wissellit at the first betuix the Erle of Mar and Lord Lyndsay, quhilkis could not be quenched a long tyme
