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: 1399-1420, 1473-1696
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Credil(l, Creddil(l, n. Also: kredill, credile, credel(l, credle. [ME. credil(le, -yl(le, credel, prob. (OE. *crædel, variant of cradel, cradol Cradil.]
1. A child's cradle. Cf. Cradil 1.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi. 41; etc.
In his credil, ore he cuth crepe, Thus he be-gane to God seke 1473 Treasurer's Accounts II. 39.
iij elne of quhite for his credile, and stufe pertening tharto a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 428; etc.
A barne … In credell bundin lay slepand faire 1502 Treasurer's Accounts II. 46.
For ane elne gray damas to be ane swele belt for hir credill 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 74.
Thar is the first hyll, … Thar our forbearis first in thar credlys lay c 1530 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries II. 349.
A credel and thre barnis maid of claith 15.. Clariodus v. 881.
His airis sall be nureist with honoure Into this credell of gold a1578 Pitsc. I. 123/22.
Without regaird to wyffis … or ȝoung infantis in the credill a1605 Montg. Son. l. 3.
O happy credle! and O happy hand Vhich rockit hir the hour that sho wes borne! a 1605 Birrel Diary 13.
The dead father fell over the credell quher hes awen chyld wes lying sleiping(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6977.
Barnys in creddill lyand thare To sla thame than thai wald noucht spare 1473 Treasurer's Accounts I. 41.
ij½ elne of Franche broune to couir my Lordis creddill 1502 Ib. II. 46.
Giffin for viij elne taffeti to be ane trevis to the creddill in Strivelin 1535 Stewart 44650.
Hir ȝoung sone Iohnne in his creddill that lay 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1800; etc.
The creddill ouir thay cast With boddum up 1590 Edinburgh Testaments XXI. 267 b.
Ane covering of ane creddill 1615 Lanark B. Rec. 125.
Lang befor ane sow eat ane barin in this touin in creddill 1696 Edinburgh Testaments LXXX. 170.
Ane old uand creddell
2. A wooden framework or stand. Cf. Cradill 2. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 1159.
Him selff wndyr he ordand thar with all, Bownd on the trest in a creddill to sit 1547 Reg. Great S. 20/1 n.
Ane meit burd of 3 ellis lang, set in ane creddill 1556 Protocol Book of Gilbert Grote 12.
Ane lang meit buird witht the credill of fir 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 97.
Twa doubill strakis, twa stirreppis to the creddill 1579 Edinburgh Testaments VII. 175 b.
I leif to my sone … ane burde on an creddel with ane furme 1616 Master of Works Accounts XII. 58.
To Johne Thomesoun that wirkis in the creddell 1623 Ib. XVI. 14 b.
Making ane kredill to my Lord Chancellaris chimlay heid 1655-6 Peebles B. Rec. II. 198.
To the men that pat up the credill in the Neidpethe loft againe
3. A crate of glass. Cf. Cradill 3. 1522–3 Treasurer's Accounts V. 199.
Tua creddillis of glas … price of ilk creddill 1532 Ib. VI. 34.
To Thome Peblis, glasynvricht, iiij creddillis of glas, price of the creddill iij li. x s. 1549–50 Ib. IX. 372.
For v creddillis of glas, send to the new wark in Hammyltoun 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 153.
He gaif ane creddill of glas to the commoun wark of the touns college
4. Attrib. with belt, belting, cord, covering. 1478 Acts Lords Auditors 67/1.
ij worsett creddil beltis 1600 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 68 b.
Fyne Crawfurde Mwre wirset to be creddill beltis 1600 Ib.
Ane creddill cord 1609 Edinburgh Testaments XLV. 348.
Ane wob of creddill belting 1614 Ib. XLVIII. 3.
Ane bairnes creddill covering of stemmyng 1623 Orkney Bishopric Court Book MS. 53.
Ane barnes credle covering of freise
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"Credil n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/credill>
