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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.

Libel(l, n. Also: libal, lybel(l, -ill, -ale, lyble, lebell, laybele. [ME. (1297) and e.m.E. libel, -ell(e, OF. libel masc., libelle fem., L. libellus dim. of liber book.]

1. A little book, a short treatise. c1420 Wynt. v. 3379.
Donate than … hys libell [W. libel] wrate That now barnys oysys to lere 1535 Stewart 101.
[In Iona] wes keipit thair storeis and bukis, As in this libell thow sall se quhen thow luikis Ib. 3441.
Thair laubour wes most for to treit and draw Historiall thing and lybellis of the law And childer teiche 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 20.
Thocht thay [certain poets] be ded, thar libells bene leuand 1536 Id. Answ. Flyting 10.
Lustie ladyis, that [on] ȝour libellis lukis, My cumpanie dois hald abhominable c1590 Fowler I. 320/24.
Bot here I end and byds your libell

2. A formal declaration or missive, in libell of repudie, forsaking, partising, rendering or answering to Vulgate libellum repudii of Matth. v. 31 and elsewhere. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 74.
Diomed … send to hir ane lybell of repudie c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. v. 31.
Quha euir leifis his wif, gefe he to hir a libel of forsaking [P. id., W. a libel, that is, a litil boke of forsakyng] Id. Ib. xix. 7; etc. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 236.
A man haffand displesure at his wife wald geve to hir a libel of partising

3. A leaflet or pamphlet posted up or circulated, assailing or defaming the character of a person or containing scurrilous or treasonable matter. b. A scurrilous, defamatory or treasonable publication.Sometimes famous libell(is (Famous a. 3), in e.m.E., 1521–. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cv. ii.
And thocht that sum thair libellis dois allow Ȝit few … will thair awin warkis avow 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 30.
For besyde lybellis commounlie castin abrode, the Kingis father, the Erle of Lennox, did oppinly accuse him for principall author of the murther 1581 Acts III. 213/1.
Fugitiuis … causis to be dispersit in this realme diuers famous buikis and libellis in prais … of the Paip 1599 Ib. IV. 187/1.
That na persone … write publische prent or sett out ony maner of buik, libell defamatoir, invectiue … or historie without his maiesteis licence had & obtenit 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 180.
His allegations … in his idle & liing warks pamphlets & libels Ib.
& thairfor schaues thame selfes being meer libels not woorthie faithe Ib. 182.
Be his liinge dispersit libels & vntreuths 1668 Craven Ch. in Orkney 31.
A survey of the … infamous libel entitled Naphtali 1682 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. VII. 311.
That upon Wednesday next … the saids treasonable libells, viz. The Solemn League and Covenant [etc.] … be publickly burnt

4. The formal statement of the grounds on which a civil or criminal prosecution is made; a legal indictment. Also fig. c1575 Balfour Pract. 313 f. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Table) ii. 86.
Ane libel is ane petitioun maid in writ be the persewar, contenand the namis of the judge, of the persewar, and of the defendar, the thing that is clamit, and the cause quhairfoir the samin is clamit and askit. The libel is … gevin to the defendar [etc.](a) 1456 Hay I. 271/15. Ib. 276/8.
In justice ordinare … before a juge a man suld mak his clayme be a libell in wrytt 1501 Thanes of Cawdor 112.
The libell to be proponit and maid within twenty a dais nixt hereftir folowand 1514 Edinb. Hammermen 84.
For ane act in the proponing of ane libell agane Will Ra 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 16.
The said master Alexander ansuerit that he knew na dependence of that action … before the officer be na libel … of hyme 1543 Acts II. 440/2.
Tharfor the said decret of forfaltour is vncert … and promulgate vpoune ane vnecerte, inept & generale libell 1592 Ib. III. 578/1.
That … all criminall libellis sall contene that the personis complenit on ar airt and pairt of the cryme libellit 1596 Dalr. II. 366/19.
Quha tuik al priuat libalis and accusatiounis, and causet exeme thame … in … Inuernesse [etc.] 1606 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 17.
His former defences gevein in against the libell of removing persewit be Jhon Andersone agains him 1669 Alford Rec. 145.
Thomas Stewart … insisting in the libell formerly given in … and eiking a second libell 1677 Dunkeld Presb. I. 278.
The Presbytery … appoint him peremptorily against this day fortnight to give in a subscribed libel 1690 A. Shields Grievances and Sufferings 8.
Persons brought before them were made to answer super inquirendis, … without either libel or accuser(b) 1562 Digest Justiciary Proc. D. 35.
After acceptioun of the lybell [he] desyrit to sie the … lettres of lawborrowes quhairwpoun the lybell is foundit 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV. 298.
Answerit the advocat that he nather accuses for haulding of court, doing of justice, bot as the lybel beris 1622 Crim. Trials III. 519.
Scho is summond to ansuer to ane lybell of witchcraft 1663 Justiciary Rec. I. 80.
This verdict … being inept and disconform to the lybell 1677 Stitchill Baron Ct. 81.
Conteind in the last article of the lyble c1679 Kirkton Hist. 112.
He was accused by the advocate, and hade his lybell delivered to him to answer, but … was sentenced unheard 1698 S. Ronaldshay 71.
That he cited any for such small sums as are mentioned in the lybill is an aspersion 1700 Minnigaff Par. Rec. 39.
Marion Broun … questioned according to the lybale, ansuered [etc.]fig. c1590 Fowler I. 196. lxi. 4.
Whils your faire eyes wer summonds first of love, And then my lookes the lybells of lyke zeale(c) 1625 Yester Writs 364.
I requeist ȝow sie him exsemeit vpon all the poynt of the lebell(d) 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 143.
My Lord Argills process is sustained relivant and the laybele admitted to probation