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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hurl, v. Also: hurle, hurll, hurril. [ME. (chiefly north. and north midl.) hurl(e (13th c.), e.m.E. hurte, of uncertain origin.]

1. intr. To rush impetuously, to dash, to hurtle. (Common in Douglas.) a1500 Colk. Sow 396.
Thay hurlit furth vpoun hede 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 14; Ib. vii. Prol. 20, xii. ix. 56.
Quhen the burn on spait hurlys down the bank Ib. iii. x. 39.
A huge pepill we se Of Ciclopes cum hurland to the port Ib. xii. v. 191.
Italianys hurlys on hym in a floytId. Comm. iv/1. 15.. Clar. v. 2273.
The Constabill … Sik wounder had to sie the grit deray Amongs the knightis hurling on the feild 1585 James VI Ess. 62.
In flyting and inuectiues, ȝour wordis to be cuttit short and hurland ouer heuch

2. tr. To throw or cast violently; to push or thrust violently or roughly, to hustle. (With complements.) ?1438 Alex. ii. 10510.
Thay na sheildis had na thay war In sheuers hurlit heir and thair 1540 Lynd. Sat. 977.
Heir sall thay hurle away Gude-Counsall 1562-3 Winȝet II. 22/5.
A grete parte, the townis being forbiddin thame, wes hurlit out [L. protrusi] and banissit 1612 Crim. Trials III. 243.
The said Johnne come to him and hurrillit him maist violentlie over the brae beside the mylne 1613 Elgin Kirk S. 136.
Agnes Grant struck her and hurled her to the ground 1623 Elgin Rec. II. 179.
Mariorie Crichtoun hurlit abak Mariorie Bonymans stooll upon hir selff and iniurit hir werie ewill 1657 Balfour Ann. II. 323.
40 armed men hurles capitane and all to the housse 1692 A Letter to a Friend 19.
[He] hurled me by the shoulders through the church islefig. 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 245.
What I wryt shall not be lyke … vthers who evrey way takis occasioun to hurle in every report in their missives

b. To throw or knock about violently or roughly. c1590 Fowler I. 62/125.
[We were] hurlit, meinȝeit, riwin, As none of ws … wist how he wes drewin 1604 Ellon Presb. 48.
He hurlit hir and strak hir on the mouth with his hands a1680 Blair 22.
The new creature was assaulted, hurled and haled as a captive, hindered in doing good and hurried away to evil

3. tr. To wheel in a vehicle.(Cf. Harl v.¹ 1 d.) 1558-66 Knox I. 121.
The Englismen ... hurlled by force of men cannounes up the calsay to the butter-throne 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 72.
All the harlottis ... to be hurlyt in ane cart throuch the toune 1693 Foulis Acc. Bk. 161.
To Jonie Frizell for 2 dayes … at hurling muck to the yard