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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Singil(l, Single, adj. Also: -ile, -el(l, -all, -ull, singl, syngill, -yl(l, -ull, chingill, sinkill, -ell, sinkle, sengell, seingall, sewin gall. [ME sengle (Manning), sengel (14th c.), syngle (c1400), sengyl (c1421), syngil (c1449), e.m.E. single (1485), F. single (OF sengle, c1120 in Larousse), L. singul- one, individual, separate.] Single.

1. Solitary, alone; unaccompanied or unsupported by others. 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 683.
Thomas and Patrik … perceaving the said Petir to be single, invadit him 1587 Edgar Hist. Dumfries App. 200.
[The murder was of a peculiarly atrocious type, Newall being] single, allane, and without any kind of armour c1590 J. Stewart 50/91.
Rodger heir single vith this ladie ȝing 1611 Crim. Trials III 166.
That they sould kill Hew Kennedie … whairof the occasion did presentlie offer in respect of his being singill in Aire

b. Quasi-adv. Singly; one at a time; one by one. 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 71.
Swa for thi singull singularlie, and vnivers vniuerslie, with ane mynd … we answeir fayth as foirsaid is 1627 Rep. Parishes 197.
The teandis off this wholl baronie and parochine hes … beine collectit be the barone off Ednem, and never [been] sett singill sa far as we can learne a1652 Dickson Psalms I 119.
In this case it is the best remedy to lay the worst of our thoughts single before the Lord

2. Separate, distinct. 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 71.
Divers and singull tractetis beand had fra thin to thin to the honor of God 1629 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 130.
[The schoolmaster to be paid] ane firlott meall appon every single plough

3. One only; one and no more. 1574–5 Reg. Privy S. VII 2/1.
Quhiddir … Katherine Lyell, relict of the said umquhile George, suld have hir awin thrid part and the saidis bairnis thair said fatheris deid part and thair awin part … or gif the said Katherine suld onlie have ane singill part as the saidis bairnis 1586 Montrose Baillie Ct. fol. 5a (2 Sept.).
This present act … to haue the strenth of thair decreit … vpoun ane singill chairge of thre dayis vairneing 1603 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 45.
To pas thairon one ane singill charge of sex dayis 1622-6 Bisset II 209/26.
Ane greit grose contenis twelf singill grose c1630 Scot Narr. 285.
It is but an Assembly single, and in itselfe divided 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 112.
One single quart will stryke his Lordsheep dombe 1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 298.
They were judges of an single blood … and … had power to liberate upon payment of that fyne 1680 Kingarth Par. Rec. 124.
The room for two pews to Largiȝean, after him for Gilnow M'Kaw … and his neigbor for a singl pew

b. In emphatic use after a negative, or an adverb with negative force. a1400 Leg. S. v 152.
Skantly had ilkane of tha A singill clath 1572 Buch. Detect. (1572) 50.
In this woman ȝe must imagine na singill mischefe

c. Of an event: Having happened only once. 1673 Kingarth Par. Rec. 84.
Mary N^cConochie likwise is injoynd to satisfie … and to be unlawed in 5 lib., it being single fornicatioun to her

d. quasi-adv. Poorly, sparsely (in terms of numbers). 1571 Bann. Trans. 121.
His Grace had to remane at Glasgow, being verie single accumapaneit

4. Singill pleuche, appar., the persons furnishing and working a standard plough and its team of eight oxen; the tenants, collectively, of a ploughland (see Pleuch n. 5). 1548–9 Treas. Acc. IX 274.
Every singill pleuche to furneis ane man and every soche pleuch to furneis tua men … to the beilding of the fort … at Inneresk 1549 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) lxii.]
[[In January 1549, when the Privy Council decreed the building of a fort at Inveresk they ordained] that every pleugh of aucht oxen … furnisch ane man … and ilk fotch-pleuch furnisch twa men

5. Unmarried; celibate. 1558-66 Knox II 311.
Ane hundreth markis was sufficient to a singill man 1570 Bann. Memor. 57.
I ressoned … that being single, without one pairtie, I mycht the moir easilie spend my tyme 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 445.
That na syngill wemen be fund halding any howse be thame selff 1597 Misc. Maitl. C. I 129.
That na eldar nor diacun suffir ane singill woman that never hes bein mareit to dwell hir allane in ane hous 1610 Laing MSS 117.
If the person deceist be singill, and hes na bairnes 1621 Misc. Maitl. C. I 459.
Quhilk tread [sc. brewing] she is commanded to leave aff seing she is ane singill woman be hir self, and commanded to entir in honest serveice with diligence 1622-6 Bisset II 414/30.
This Gregorie establisched the singill lyfe of preistis and … forbad thame to marie

6. Of cloth, an item of clothing, etc.: Thin, fine, of a single thickness.(1) c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 153.
Quhit syngill worsat broudyn for the Lady mes 1 s. stand c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 155.
For the hee alter of arres j pendykill and ane nodyr of syngill worsat 1504–5 Treas. Acc. III 94.
For vj elne singill kyrsp to hir, … for ij elne double kirsp to hir collaris [etc.] 1529–3 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 230.
Ane meite burd coverit with singill dornewek werk 1587 Aberd. Trades 335.
Their said handy wark of seyis, worsetts, linings, and single sergis 1588 St. A. Test. II 95b.
Ten elnis singill growgrane 1593 (16 … ) Dundee B. Laws 133.
Aucht pennies for the metting of ilk hunder ell of single plaiding(b) 1580 Edinb. Test. IX 52b.
xxij elne of sewin gall claytht 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII 5b.
Aucht ellis singill quhyte fustiane(2) 1596 Montgomery Mem. 236.
Sevin singill Frinche scheittis(3) 1456 Hay II 112/21.
Than [sc. in a hot summer] wald men purvay thame of culand metis and drinkis and of calde chamberis and single clething 1502 Treas. Acc. II 198.
For ane singill bonet to the King undir his harnes 1546 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XXI 52b.
Ane singill gowne of blak 1549 Compl. 101/31.
Al ȝour armye sal be spulȝit of ȝour armour and of ȝour clais, except ilk ane sal hef ane singil coit on ȝou 1607 Dundee B. Laws 411.
Ane pair of dowbill gluiffis of haill ledder, ane pair of singill gluiffis(b) 1569 Edinb. Test. I 231.
Thre veluot hattis and thre sinkill hattis

7. Of material or non-material things: Consisting of only one (part); not compound or complex. Also, of the normal size or dimensions, as opposed to double Double adj. 1-4. a. Material. Also fig. b. Non-material.Singill cattichischolm, cataches, the Shorter Catechism, see SND Single adj. 1 (1) single book.Also (once) duble sinkell (gairtounis).'The vestments … are divided into ‘haill standis’ and ‘syngill standis’. The whole stand evidently included the complete set of vestments for the … priest, deacon … and sub-deacon … The single stands were for the celebrant only.' R. G. Cant The College of St. Salvator: its foundation and development including a selection of documents (1950) 122–3.a. c1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III 196.
Of syngyll standis … of greyn worsat i syngyll stand [etc.] 1494 Treas. Acc. I 253.
For v^c double buspikaris … for iij^c singil buspikaris 1496 Treas. Acc. I 293.
ij dowbil platis of quhit irne to be gun chargeouris … iiij syngill platis to be chargeouris 1497 Halyb. 117.
5 stekis off syngyll tartur 1502 Halyb. 268.
A dubyll ducat, vi syngyl ducatis 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 137.
For xxv pece dowble aslar and lxxxix pece singill 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII 329.
Carttit foure carttis of cuthrottis, tua of singill falconis [etc.] a1547 Coll. St. Salvator 153.
For Lentryn iij singill standis of fustian 1552 Perth Hammermen 77.
Thre sadills and singill helter 1570 Treas. Acc. XII 201.
Singile 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 330.
Four singill cannounis 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII 362b.
Fyftene gross of singill cattichisholmes; … sevin dosane of dowbill catichismes 1600 Crim. Trials II 195.
Saw also Patrik Lamb, sawster, cuming throw the Water-gait, with ane singill roiff spar on his schowder 1603 Edinb. B. Rec. V 321.
To baik and mak nakket breid of fere floure, dowbill and syngill 1644 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 33.
For 8 hondir singell nealls … [£4] 1649 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 857.
That na women … keep any maill children in ther scooll efter that they have learned the singill catachese 1653 Sc. N. & Q. I 174.
For ane singel tre to the said hous(b) 1635 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 47.
In the melting-hous … Ellevin single casting lignetts of yrne 1643 Edinb. Test. LX 238.
Sextene single halk bages … nyn double halk bagis 1663 Philorth Baron Ct. II 35.
The miln will neid sex single tries and fywe dealles to mak hir sufficient 1688–9 Glasgow B. Rec. III 515.
Sevin double kairts and a single one with Clellands baggage 1698 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 663.
[To leave the houses in as good condition as they are] with the double and single dikes(c) 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 382.
To his grace hois thre gros of sinkle pointis mixt witht silver 1567–8 Treas. Acc. XII 93.
vj dosane of blak sincle pointis — 1575 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 657/2.
Ane boy that come to Argyll with ane pair of duble sinkell gairtounis to my lord(d) 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 6ab.
I haue reseuet fra Jhone Rameseye iii scor sengell pestolis 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 77b.
James Formans countis of hes talone ane of the sengell key ane pype iii schepe pound vi les lesche pound(e) c1604 Dundee Shipping P. 81.
For it wes warrit one seingall beir to the schip and dowbell beir … to Wm. Clleponefig. 1702 Wishart Sermon 28 (5 May).
A single hoof of faithb. 1513 Doug. x Prol. 62.
Thys syngill substans indifferently thus ganys To thre in ane 1526 Prot. Bk. J. Foular II 220.
He may pas quhar he plesis with his corne of the saidis landis to grynd excepand gif he likis for singill multer to come to the said lordis myll 1587 Aberd. Chart. 350.
To have the strynthe of ane confessit act and judicall decreit with executoriallis of poinding and horning … to pas thairto vpone ane chingill chairg of four dayis warning

c. Of God: Of one substance, not several, as in the Trinity. ; 1562-3 Winȝet II 36/28.
Photinus … affirmis that God is single [marg. That is without distinctioun of persones] and solitare … he denyis the fullines of the Trinitie

d. Used of a type of flower. 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 104.
When in grass, it affords the best of grass, such as cleaver and filch grass, and medden, which, I think, may rather be term'd a wild white single daisie

e. Singill avail, singill escheit."‘Single avail’ was [the sum of money] exacted if the heir married without the consent of his superior; ‘double avail’ if, the superior having offered a suitable match, the heir married some one else." William Croft Dickinson (ed.) The Sheriff Court Book of Fife, 1515–1522 (SHS) 295. 'Single escheat is forfeiture of moveables to the Crown upon conviction of certain crimes.' Andrew Dewar Gibb Students' Glossary of Scottish Legal Terms (1946) s.v. Escheat(1) 1500 Acta Conc. II 414.
For the wrangus withhalding fra hir of the singil availe of the sade Jonet Somervilis mariage extending til the soume of v^c li. 1501–2 Acta Conc. III 172.
[He] protestit that quhat may pertene til him anent the singil avale of Jhone Laing mariage [etc.] 1566 Misc. Maitl. C. I 47.
To freth releif and keip him [etc.] … harmles and skaithles of the rycht of his marriage; single and dowbill awaill thereof [etc.](2) 1622 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 230.
His Majestie gave … to the said Earle of Aboyne … all … giftes of single and lyfrent escheit … concerning the lands a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 155.
Ther falls no mair under the gift of single escheit then quhat perteined to the rebell the tyme of the rebellion 1681 Stair Inst. ii i § 4.
Rights having a tract of time, but not for a liferent, are moveable, and fall under single escheat

8. Simple, plain; without special standing, status, or qualification. 1583 Perth B. Ct. (26 April).
In caice his said vmquhile father wes singill burges 1594 Conv. Burghs I 449.
Ordanis all burgessis and craftismen … that ar singell burgessis to desist … fra all vsing … of any pairt of the liberty … of the said gildbrether … without thai be admittet … thairto a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 340.
They who are serious and single, though fecklesse, may look for God's guiding of them a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 528.
Better be a single souldier on Christ's side, than a commander of a whole army against Him 1664 Sc. N. & Q. 3 Ser. IX 137/2.
In ane vertuous & singall maner as becometh ane judishous treadsman 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xvii § 3 (1678) 171.
Our law divides adultery in that which is notour adultery, and single adultery 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xix § 6 (1678) 196.
God Almighty intended not that single theft should be punished by death

9. ? Honest, sincere, free from guile or duplicity. c1705 Nimmo Narr. 29.
And that she might be helped to be single befor the Lord

10. Singill combat, a duel. = Singular combat Singular adj. 3. 1596 Warrender P. (SHS) I 279.
The singill cumbat wes fouchin betuix James Carmichell and Adame Brounfeild upoun the lynkis of Barnbowgall

11. comb. With forcastellit, nekkit (see For(e)-castellit adj. and Nek(k)it adj. 1). 1482 Edinb. Chart. 169.
The anchorage of ilk grete schip singill or doubill forcastellit 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 198.
For his grace tua double nekkit bonettes and tua single nekkit bonettis