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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Girnel(l, Gyrnel(l, n. [Var. of Girnal(l, Gernel(l, which, with change of suffix, corresponds to ME. (c 1175) and OF. gerner, garner. Common in later use.] A large chest or other receptacle or space for the storage of meal, malt, grain, or salt.Sometimes with defining term, as corn, mele, malt, salt, victuall gernel, q.v. 1541 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 109.
With certificatioun to thame … thai will strik vp thair girnellis and mak the samyn [malt] patent to all persouns of that pryce 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II. 280.
iij s. for makin of ane ledder to mend the gyrnellis, … viij s. giffin to the sklatir for warkmanisschip of the hail gyrnelis 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 253.
Ȝon carle … all prouisioun hes within himsell, In barne or byre, in hall, girnell, and seller 1579 Reg. Morton I. 119.
I haif maid a blok with the thesaurar anent sum victualis in girnel and vtouth 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 159.
That the baillies pas to Leyth and strik up the girnells that thai fynds steikit contrer the proclamatioun 1630 Bamff Chart. 224.
Ane backin boord with ane girnell, standing in the sellar c1650 Spalding I. 162.
Thay plunderit … about 22 scoir of victuall, whiche he had laid wp in stoir in the girnellis of Kemnay Ib. 297.
Thay brak wp girnellis quhair euer thay cam to furnesh thame selfis breid 1675 Sutherland Chart. 211.
To leave the saids girnells and corfe houss in alse good … conditionetransf. ?1549 Monro W. Isles 29.
Tierhie … was callit in all tymes M^cConneills girnell, for it is all teillit land

b. Attrib. with geir, guidis; door, volt; man.(1) 1447 Dundee Chart. 24.
Of ilk tun of gyrnel gud of fremen, ii d. 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 374.
At the arryving of ony girnell guids pertening to the inhabitants of Abirdene 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 134.
Gif the schip be laydnit with salt, corne, or ony vther girnell geir, the marineris portage to be put in girnell with the rest 1641 Stirling Chart. 152.
Cuiusvis bolle frumenti, … et bonorum penuariorum, lie girnell guides … duos denarios(2) 1596 Edinb. Test. XXIX. 206 b.
Ane bowand liddit ark standand in the girnell wolt a1651 Calderwood I. 473.
One thrust through with a rapper a man of Dundie because he was looking in at the girnell door 1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 26.
The said captain … did, … forceably breake up the girnell doores in which there ferme meall did ly(3) 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 313.
One defect … wes the want of a girnell man and place to receave the rents