Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Jayl(l, Jail(l, n. Also : jayle, jeal(l. [e.m.E. and ME. jail(e, jayl(e, earlier iaiole (a 1300), OF. jaiole. Cf. Gayll, Jeyoll and Javell.] A jail or prison.(a) 1597 Acts IV. 141/1.
That … thair be sufficient and sure iailles and ward housis begged 1610 Highland P. III. 120.
Yf thay salbe dispossest of thair housis and the same convertit to jaylls 1611-57 Mure Doomesday 49.
Death's loathsome den, detested jayle 1640–1 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 53.
Any idle man … he shall be … put in jayll till he tak himself to some trade 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 408.
Ther heads sett … one the pinackells of the comon jayle of Edinbrughe(b) 1635 Reg. Great S. 160/1.
That the Scottismen taken be brought to the jeal of Scotland 1654 Nicoll Diary 129.
They haifing na jealis … to commit thame unto 1658 Bk. Old Edinb. C. IV. 120.
To put … to libertie forthe of thair jeall

b. Attrib. with hous, fie. 1638 Reg. Great S. 290/2.
Cum potestate … edificandi lie tolbuithe or jailhous 1640 Aberd. Council Lett. II. 206.
The keyis of thair jaylhous and prison 1672 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI. 112.
Ay and whill shee satisfie the jayl fies