Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Outwale,) Outwail(l, n. Also: -wayle, -walle, -wald, -wyle, -vyle. [Late ME. out-wale (15th c.), e.m.E. owtwayle (1582), and in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial.; Out adv., Wale n. and v.]

One who, or that which, is selected for exclusion or rejection. a. An outcast; a person unworthy to remain in society, an unworthy person. b. The unworthiest, the least worthy. c. What is chosen for rejection, the reject. d. The remainder, the remnants.a. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 129 (Ch.).
Now am I maid ane vnworthie outwaill [Th. outwayle] 1587-99 Hume 179/512.
For the whiche outwyles that ar among [us] ar this daye sett ower you and do vex you a1605 Montg. Early Misc. P. iii. 23.
The worthiest and valiantest sho wraks, And honours out-waills for wnworthie actsb. 1535 Stewart 20714.
Ane toun … quhilk … sufferit hes sic outrage and ouirthraw With the outwaill than of this warld aw, That neuir sensyne attenis to sic gloir 1626 Garden Worthies 46.
Myselfe, altho the outwalle & the worst, … sall [etc.]c. 1603 Argyll Acc. 5 June.
Resaved fra Macarthors mane fyve of the outwald of his mairttisd. 1580 Coll. Aberd. & B. 392.
That seing the haill plennising found in the House of Logie and the outvyle of the plennesing left … in Slanis is all owir litill to plenneis ane of the places 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 494.
He will not take the out-wails of your love