Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cach(e)pell, Caich(e)pule, n. Also: chachspele, cachespale, cach(e)peill, cachepill, caitchpell, -pill; cach(e)puyle, -puyll, -pull, caitchepull, catchpul(l, -poole, -pole; catchball. [Older Flem. caetsspel (mod. kaatsspel), f. caetse Cache n. For the frequent forms with initial k see Kachepele.]

1. a. The game of hand-tennis. b. The ground or court for playing this.(a) 1526 Treas. Acc. V. 256.
Payit for ballis in the chachspele in Edinburgh 1562 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 48.
[Thai] syne past thairfra to the cachepill of Henry Kynloch 1563 Aberd. Reg. XXV. (Jam. (1825) s.v. Cachepill).
The fluir of his cachepill laitly biggit 1581 Treas. Acc. MS. 71² b.
To Johnne Kinloch, keipare of his hienes cachpell, for ballis furnessit to his maiestie in playing at the samin 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 665.
That nane be fund vagand in the kirk yaird, streittis, … cachpellis, nor feild, tyme of sermon [on] the Sabboith day 1595 Ib. 808.
That na buith durris, … be opint upon Sonday, … eftir the ringing of the last bell to sermone, and that all caichepellis be than closit 1620 Reg. Great S. 19/1.
Dimidietatem terrarum edificatarum et vastarum lie Caitchpill infra tenementum quond. Geo. Ur [etc.] 1623 Ib. 188/1.
Cum novo spheristorio lie caitchpell per dictum Bernardum desuper edificato 1626 M. Works Acc. XIX. 30.
For carying of … conduite pypes ffrom the caitchpill to the womanhous in the pallace 1643 Fife Synod 137 (see Cache n.)
Catchpell(b) 1526 Treas. Acc. V. 275.
For ballis in Crummis cachpuyll quhen the Kingis grace playit with the lord Glammis Ib. 277.
Gevin for the Kingis disjone in Antonis cachpuyle, xxvj s. 1532 Ib. VI. 29.
For bawis tynt be the Kingis grace in Maister James Haliburtounis caichepule 1538–9 M. Works Acc. VI. 12 b.
Fre stane to the werk and caichpule 1557 Glasgow Prot. II. 28.
Unius lusorii [called] ly caichepule a1568 Bann. MS. 156 a/12.
Ane handles man I saw … In caichepule fast playane 1585–6 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 449.
In tyme of preaching … that nane be fund in the caitchepulles 1596 Ib. V. 355.
To ane warkman … in helping up the catchpul; 2s. 6d. 1600-1610 Melvill 30.
I haid … nocht a purs for catchpull and tavern 1626 M. Works Acc. XIX. 30.
Carying thaim [sc. slates] in from the horse to the great caitchepule at the pallace a1680 Blair Autob. 8.
The exercise of my body by archery and the catchpole(c) 1617 M. Works Acc. XV. 49 b.
To Jhonne Buning for laying over the catchball of Falkland with a blak cullour 1650 S. Leith Kirk S. 93.
Mr Ion Weir … preached … in the Caitchball at the foot of the Cannongaite

2. Attrib. with ball, wall, ȝaird. 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 271.
For twa dosoun of cachepull balls cled with gold fuilȝe till hing upone the tre upone the Trone 1607 Edinb. Test. XLII. 239.
Thrie gros of cachpeill ballis at xxiiij s. the gros 1612 Bk. Rates 228.
Ballis callit catchpoole ballis — 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. XVI. (J).
Tueching the debait of the bigging of the said Alex'ris cachespale wall — 1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 71 b.
The tenement and foirland … with the caichpule ȝaird and taill of the samin