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

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

Idil(l, Ydil(l, adj. Also: idille, -yll, idel, idle, ydell, yddill, ydle, iydill, aydil, (edll). [ME. ydel, idel, etc., OE. ídel.] Idle.

1. Of persons: Unoccupied, (temporarily) unemployed, at leisure.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 340.
James of Douglas wes angry That thai so lang suld ydill ly c1475 Wall. x. 930.
Thar purpos is I sall nocht ydill be 1549 Compl. 9/23.
Scipio was neuyr les ydil as quhen he aperit to be idil c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1268.
The deuyll, … Quhen he persauis ane ydill man, He gettis … eaisalye entres 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 647.
Als gude he had sittin ydle As there ower land to leid his brydle(b) a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 348.
In froist … he saw idil men Playand thame Ib. 354.
Thai that idil bene had a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 9.
He that does his turne in time, sits half idel 1627 1st Rep. Hist. MSS. 178.
I am … putt in ane bak rowme to he ane idill onwaiter

2. Given to idleness; lazy, indolent; frivolous, worthless. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2621.
Lyand in dennis lyke idill doggis I them compair to weil fed hoggis 1562-3 Winȝet II. 28/31.
Wane-talkand men … and with that also ydil … and nocht allanerlie ydill, hot also clatterand and curious a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xv. 87.
God … tak away thir ydill lownis, Cryand crakkaris with cloutit gownis 1576 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 50 a.
For calk to put the paynted schippis away that was paynted in the kirk be ydill boyes 1596 Dalr. I. 213/18.
King Constantine is … sa dul, and heauie, … and deid ydle 1620 Grant Chart. 216.
To trye and puneis all ressettaris, supplearis and helparis of thaes idill and wagabund peopill callit Egiptianeis

3. Having no occupation or fixed employment, unemployed. 1425 Acts II. 11/2.
The schirref sall assigne xl dais to sic ydil men to get thaim masteris 1533 Gau 93/30.
Theyffis and stark ydil beggers the quhilk ar blwid suppers of the pwir 1533 Bell. Livy II. 119/28.
He considerit that the multitude of idil pepill wald be richt chargeand to his toun 1547 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 131.
That the said watches apprehend all misdoars, idill men or men that hes na maister 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 210.
Certane vagabound ydill and countirfute people of diverse nationis, falslie namyt Egiptianis a1578 Pitsc. II. 320/15.
That na beggaris nor yddill men sould be sufferrit bot thay war agit 1610 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 304.
Ail houssis … , which ar the resittis of the idill wagabundis 1613 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 52.
He is delaitit to be ane iydill man 1617 Ellon Presb. 101.
For putting ydill briggens out of the paroche

4. Of things, etc.: Unoccupied, unused, not in operation. 1428 Wemyss Chart. 57.
Gyf it hapnis that … the saltpanis lyis idill or vnset 1463 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 21.
That thai [sc. the mills] ly nocht ydill in the touns defaltt 1513 Doug. vii. xi. 128.
With curage dolf, that idill lay thar geir 1535 Stewart 52416.
Vpoun ane hors he fand besyde him ydill 1558 Inverness B. Rec. I. 20.
The said Doncan pluch lay idyll in his defalt 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 144.
The schip sall nocht ly idill c1650 Spalding I. 234.
The gramar scool, and vther scoolis who had lyin idle befoir, beginis now to florische

b. fig. Of thoughts, etc.: Inactive, indefinite. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 126.
Thair is ane fayth, quhilk is general, deade, and ydil c1590 J. Stewart 10/1.
Sene vyce oft tyms dois breid be ydle thocht

c. Idle time, time of leisure or vacation or of unemployment.Also, idill (= unoccupied, leisure-) hour. 1599 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 322.
For drink gewin to the wrychtis at thair idill houris 1609 Douglas Corr. 194.
Gif your majestie pleissis, ye may at ony iydill hour reid the same 1600-1610 Melvill 783.
Dureing that idle time, as in the collegis 1619 Laing MSS. I. 154.
Sins my home coming I never had ane iydill houre 1683 New Mills Manuf. 59.
Of paying of the stoking weivers what was dew them for ther edll [sic] tym

5. Of actions, words, etc.: Useless, ineffective, etc.; vain, frivolous, trifling. 1456 Hay II. 111/8.
God has nathing maid in nature nouthir … voide na idill for nocht 1551 Hamilton Cat. 166.
Of all ydill wordis quhilk men spekis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2809.
This vther knicht … had spendit his rent … On idill gammes, as hunting and halking a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1532 (Wr.).
It should be idle work 1644 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. vi. 56.
I desayr not that thair should be anay aydil schouis or seirimonis at my bourial