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.
Quotation dates: 1641-1686
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Infall, n. [e.m.E. (1645–47) in sense 2, but more common in Sc. use.]
1. The inflow of a river. 1641 Acts V. 611/2.
The landis … boundit betwix … the height of the mouth and infall of the said water 1683 Banff Ann. II. 214.
Bamf, which stands at the infall of Divern
2. An inroad, incursion, raid. 1646 Aberd. Council Lett. III. 45.
Having maid ane infall and killing Donald Farquharsone1650 Cramond Ch. Fordyce 29.1657 Aberd. Council Lett. III. 290. 1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 603.
They … did make ane infall in hostile maner upon the dwelling house of the said Donald Monro1676 W. Row Blair 249, 310. 1681 Lanark B. Rec. 205.
A company of leud and irregular persons did the last night make ane infall upon this burgh a 1686 Turner Mem. 177.
The place where they quartered … was defencible enough against infalls1686 Short Accoumpt Argyls Invasion 9.
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"Infall n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/infall_n>
