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.
Kill, Kyl(l, v.1 Also: kil(le. P.t. killit, -yt. P.p. killit, etc.; kild; kilt. [ME. kille(n (14th c.), kylle, p.t. kild(e, kyld(e, killed, p.p. i)kilde, killed; also (chiefly midl. and south.) kelle (15th c.), p.p. ykeld; western and southern culle(n (a 1225), kulle(n, p.t. culde (c 1205), p.p. y)culled; to kill; earlier, to strike: known only f. early ME. Cf. also Kele.]
1. tr. To put to death, slay, kill (a person or animal); to slay (a hunted animal). Also absol.(a) a1500 Colk. Sow i. 116.
The pure pig gaif a rore Him to kill quhen thay pynit 1513 Doug. x. xii. 35.
Mynas syne he kyllys in the feild a1578 Pitsc. II. 100/36.
Quhene the feild was endit, the Protectour of Ingland gart sound his trumpatis and cryit ‘Kill no more’ 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 25.
Gleddis of nature killis not oft the uylde 1646 Aberd. Council Lett. III. 45.
[The general] haveing made ane infall and killing Donald Farquharsone Montrose [etc.]absol. 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 4.
Thai kyll [L. cædebant] and ar bet down on euery syde 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 122.
In France … its not lawful for any to chasse or kil under the pein of a fine(b) 1513 Doug. ix. xii. 80.
And first he kyllit Phalarys with his handis Ib. xii. ix. 38.
This other chiftane, Turnus, killit twa 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5727.
Him self … killit and put doun the verray instrument [sc. Galiene] Quhilk wald haue him supportit(c) 1513 Doug. viii. ix. 63.
Mezentyus … Suld na wys … By swerd haue killyt so feill corps as slane is Ib. xiii. vi. 201.
Lat ws byrn the bodeis, … Quham … into batale kyllyt lyis ded 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2169.
Ȝour greit wyld bair I haue him killit throw cace1575 Douglas Corr. 200.
My hawk ... hayth kyled boyth heron and goysea1578 Pitsc. II. 100/28.
The haill Scottis that war killit that day 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 55.
Killit in the tounes service c1650 Spalding II. 445.
What wes killit to Montrois is vncertane(b) 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Humours 12 b.
After the deere is kild and cwird 1615 Highland P. III. 175.
[They] boistit to haif kilt the saids seruande and witness
b. To strike or cut down, so as to kill.c1450-2 Howlat 564 (B).
The Douglas … Killit doun his capitanis
c. Said of an impersonal agency.c1420 Wynt. viii. 6440.
Men, and barnys and women … [the plague] sparyd noucht for to kille [W. quell] then 1613 Highland P. III. 127.
My tennentis … murthoured and sick of thame as eschaipit the sworde … wer killit with colde
d. reflex. and transf.1600-1610 Melvill 536.
[The Kirk was intended] by such conventiouns as sould beir the name of a Generall Assemblie, and so by hir selff to kill and undoe hir selff
2. To come near to killing, cause to suffer.1567 G. Ball. 151.
Vnkyndnes hes killit me And put me to this paine
