A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1651-1689
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Onfall, n. Also: -falle. [North. ME. on-fall (Cursor M.), OE. onfeall, an attack of a disease or other calamity. In the mod. dial. only Sc.] An attack or onset. — 1651 Alyth Par. Ch. 90.
[David Henderson] … wounded be the Englishmen at the onfall at Alicht 1651 Inverurie 309. 1679 J. Somerville Mem. II. 349.
If the Prince … had made an onfall that night … he had carried the victory 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 38.
It's not easy to prevent danger from them from night onfalles
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"Onfall n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/onfall>
