A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1531-1650
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Afeild, adv. Also: afeld, afeyld, afield; affeild, affild; affeill (? afaill). [ME. a felde (c 1225), o felde (13th c.): see Felde n.]
1. In the field; away from home; abroad. (Contrasted with at hame.) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 84.
This Metellane … governit all materis, baith at hame and afeld, with gret felicite 1551 Ayr B. Ct. & Council Bks. 16 March.
Mony of the nechtbouris wes afeild at the fayre of Wygtoun 1587 Waus Corr. II. 386.
Quhat I am … sertane of bathe affeill and at hame 1596 Dalr. I. 85/6.
Nocht only … Ingland at hame, bot evin afeild externe and outland natiouns c 1650 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 144.
Ȝour brother steyis to long afeild
2. Into the field; away from home or from a place of stay, storage, etc. (Contrasted with hame or hamewart.) 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 192.
To the … pyonaris for beringe xiiii daillis hame and a field a1578 Pitsc. II. 95/23.
The governour … wald nocht suffer thame … to pase hame as they come afeild 1617 Montgomery Mem. 278.
For the compteris expensis in Edinbruch, and be the gait hame, and a-feild 1633 Master of Works Accounts XXVI. 11 b.
For caryeing thair geir home and a feiid — iijli ijs
b. Abroad; out of the country. 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. 184.
To tak gudis afeild beyound sey 1588 Ayrshire & G. Arch. Coll. VI. 247.
[He] hes … takin his said sone now afeild to France with him 1597 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 20.
To stay all tred and handling, afeyld and hamewart 1622-6 Bisset II. 206/23.
Transporteris of merchand wairis alsueill afeild as hamewarde
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"Afeild adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/afeild>
