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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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Soil(l, Sole, Sulȝe, Suilȝe, n. Also: soile, soyl(l)(e, soyill, suyll, sulȝie, -ȝhe, -ye, suleȝe, -ye, suylȝe, so(i)lȝe, soilȝie, -ȝhe, -ye, -ie, soyleȝe, soylye, soulȝe, soulye, sowylȝe. [ME and e.m.E. soyl(e (14th c.), soil(e (c1400), AF soil, soyl, appar. f. L. solium a seat taken in the sense of L. solum, F. sol the ground.]

1. (The whole extent of) the lands of an estate or community; sometimes applied particularly to the arable or grazing land of an estate.Freq. in opposition to toun, also coupled with gro(u)nd.(a) 1398 Liber Melros 489.
I Archebalde M^cdowell … bindis me … and my forsaide land and toun of Malkarstoun … and all the catill [etc.] … funden, in ony place of that soyle of Malkarstoun 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 212.
The saydis … sal compeir befor thir saydis assysouris … apone the soyle and grond of the saydis landis debatabile(b) 1402 Reg. Panmure II 184.
That frae the corne be lede of the erde of Greneforde the catel of Panmore sale hafe common pastour in the sulye of tha ilke landis quhil the tym the corn be sawyn agayne 1434 Facs. Deed in Gunn Peebles Colleg. Ch. xvi.
He gave to the said Wilȝame … state ryalle of the said landis … scharchand a worthi man … balȝhe to … Wat Scot … to pas to the sulȝhe and ger … Wilȝame have sessynge … of all the forsaid landis 1444 Aberd. B. Rec. MS IV p. 369 (16 Nov.).
A croft lande in the sulȝe of Rubislaw 1480 Rep. Hist. MSS XV App. viii 65.
[Land in the manys of Hoddome … of which Halidai gave sasine to Johnstone] at the sulȝeis [of the lands] 1483 Acts II 161/2.
I couth nocht apprehend Johne of Liddale personaly ther vpoun the ground & sulȝe of the samyn landis [sc. of Lochgelly] 1485 Lag Chart. 53. 1492–3 Acta Conc. I 277/1.
Landis liand in the toune & sulȝe of est Crage 1496 Douglas Chart. 159.
Landis … liand in the town and sulȝe of Brygeame 1524 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 106b.
Aucht rygis of landis … liand within the said sulȝe and fredom of the forsad brucht 1525 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. V 30.
Merchis … betuix the landis and sulȝe off the barony of Ȝestyr and Duncanlaw 1529 Reg. Privy S. II 24/1.
The toun and sulȝe of Rait within the schirefdome of Perth 1531–2 Reg. Privy S. II 146/1.
Within the fredomes and sulȝeis of the burrowis of Culane and Banff 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 152.
Na unfreman nor freman to by no vittaillis within the sulye of Selkyrk fra Vodinsday [etc.] 1553 Reg. Privy S. IV 316/2.(c) 1543 Reg. Privy S. III 41/2.
Ten husband landis … liand in the toun and suleye of Gradane 1682 Lanark B. Rec. 211.
Lands … lyand within the sulyie of the said burgh of Lanark(d) 1428 Liber Melros 519.
I syttand as iuge in to the suylȝe of Halsyngton … to mak departison of the landis of Halsyngton betwix the … hous of Melros … & Walter of Haliburton 1546–7 Reg. Great S. 11/1.
[Prope burgum de Lanark, infra solum, territorium et lie] suilȝe [eiusdem] 1553 Reg. Privy S. IV 322/1.
Bellis land … liand in the suilye of Eist Fentoun 1561 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 149.
Dauid Darroch induellar in Gilmertoun occupiar … of thai twa husband landis liand within the said toun and suilȝe thairof 1561 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 63.
[The lands of Brochtoun, lying in the town,] suilȝe [regality, and barony of Brochttoun] 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 101/2. 1592 Reg. Great S. 719/2.
Suilȝe(e) 1409–10 Marischal Coll. Rec. 14 n.
My four rude of lande … liande in the soilȝhe of Rubislaw at the grene ende 1431 Liber Melros 522.
Soilȝe 1445 14th Rep. Hist. MSS App. iii 12.
Lande … lyande within the soyleȝe of Borthwicsheillis 1493 Liber Aberbr. II 277.
Soylye 1500–1 Acta Conc. II 500.
The toune and soilye of Dalgernok(f) 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 248.
The said Alexander and mastir Alexander sall comper beffor thir said assisouris … apon the soulȝe and ground of the saidis landis debatabill 1493–4 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 334.
Master Symon Dodis … has byggit ane chawmer vpone the soulȝe ande mans of Innernothy 1493–4 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 334. 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 46.
Ane akyr of land … on the est syid of Dunfermlyng in the sowylȝe of Halbank 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 340.
The toune sall have thair present soulye as gressame now payit

2. The land, perhaps chiefly or originally cultivated or agricultural land, belonging to an individual. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 106.
Gif ony in the kingis solȝe be prufyt to byg ner the les in the kingis mercy he sal remayn 1434–5 Reg. St. A. 424.
Leif … to brek stanys and away leid thru the landis of the said Waltyr Monypenyis withoutyn grete foilyng and spillyng of his soilie and his teleland 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 34.
Quhar ony best is fundyn within the soilȝe & lordschip of ony man 1533 Boece 62b.
That gif contrauersy or debate war movit in tovne or suleȝe the possessoure of the samyn mycht in his awne courte discuss the cais 1533 Boece 460b.
Nane sall bruke land, toun, suleȝe nor authorite without the kingis beneuolence c1575 Balfour Pract. 442.
Gif ony is convict to have occupyit ony thing in the king's citie, upon the king's streit, the bigging sall pertene to the king, gif it be sufficientlie provin that the samin is biggit upon the kingis soilȝie 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 115b.

3. A piece of (agricultural) land. 1533 Boece 510.
Apoun ane suleȝe callit the quheitland [L. in agro cui Triticio nomen erat] he foundit ane parisch kirk

4. An area or region freq. seen as the source of a people, culture, etc.; a place, country; esp. one's native country. Freq., one's native soil.See also quot. 1578 in 5 b below.(1) 1513 Doug. viii i 44.
Now welcum Onto the grond and soill [Sm. soyll, Ruddim. sole] of Lawrentum 1561 Cal. Sc. P. I 666.
I am sory that the soyle off my native countrey did ever produce so onnaturall a subject as the Erle off Huntly c1590 Fowler I 59/52.
Arnaldo Daniell … dois by his plesant speiche and his inventionis new Renown his natiwe countrey soyle 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 119.
Show to quhat soyle owr cowrse sall be addrest 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xxi 92.
A thousand tymes this soyle doth thee salute 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xxi 114.
That … Thou may partack such as this soyle affords Urquhart Jewel (1834) 181.
The martial and literatory endowments of some natives of that soyle(b) 1513 Doug. vii xii 87.
The planys eik and sulȝe [L. arva] of Celene 1513 Doug. xi vi 45.
Within boundis of Iapigya sulȝe [Ruddim. suleȝe] 1513 Doug. xii ix 113.
In the feildis of Lawrentane sulȝe [L. solo] Thy sepultur is maid 1535 Stewart 51297.
To King Edward wes schawin … How that the Scottis war fled of that sulȝe [: spulȝe](2) a1585 Maitl. Q. 249/7.
The pilgrim … At lenth vnto his native soill He doeth mak haist c1590 Fowler I 95/341.
It dois me greiff my natiwe soyle and birth place is so bas 1605 Douglas Corr. 191.
The parting frome my native soyll, from my estait [etc.] 1609 Garden Garden 56.
Those gallants that haue … gotten glore … for fensing a-before Their natiue soyle from ferce and faithles foes 1617 Lett. to Jas. VI lxv.
Soylle 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1773.
Sole 1635 Justiciary Cases I 235.
Within this our natiue soyle and ancient kingdometransf. 1629 Boyd Last B. 327.
O that our heartes were wained from this our natiue soile … that wee might … desire to bee into that holie land(3) 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xvii 5/134.
Ulysses lov'd his mountaine highland soyle, Ithace 1640 Fugitive Poetry II xix 8/98.
To return with glad news to our soyl

5. The surface of the ground, also with regard to its vegetative covering. Passing into b. The earth of which the ground is composed as a medium for plant growth, esp. with reference to its composition, etc. c. As a place-name element. d. fig.a. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 8.
A gardyne of plesance, With sol [L. sole] depaint as paradice amiabill 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 57.
The sol [L. soyl] enbroude with colour 1513 Doug. ii x 114.
Beheld I … fra the soyll, [Ruddim. sole] gret Troy … Ourtumlyt to the grond 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 35.
The soyl ysowpit into watir wak, The firmament ourcast with rokis blak 1513 Doug. x i 136.
Barrand soyll quhar Troy was wont tobe(b) 1533 Boece 504b.
Alexander … distroying his castell made it sa equale with the sole that skantlie may the rewyne be knawin(c) 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 132.
The mornyng bla … With clowdy gum and rak ourquhelmyt the ayr The sulȝe [Sm. soulȝe] stythly hasart rouch and hairpersonified 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 74.
The sulȝe spred hir braid bosum on breidb. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1718 (Ch.).
The soill [Bann. suyll] that wes richt sessonabill, Sappie, and to resaif all seidis abill 1533 Boece 420.
Best was to direct thare navyn to Kent gif thai socht … riches, plentewos sole [L. agrum uberem] [etc.] 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II 484.
It is a fruitfull soyill, full of gude cornis, with gude lawis and gude obeydience to the same 1600 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 449.
A large village, seated in a good soyle, and very populous c1600 Pont Cunningham 9.
Achindarroch … ancient Scotts vord signifies a fold or cast of manured soyle amongest oacke trees 1632 Sc. Ant. III 130.
Sen Phœbus heer brings trouble, caire, and toyll Pray unto God to send an better soyll 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 104.
We have a black yellowish kind of soile, enclining to a dark reddish colour: this is that which we call haslie ground 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 105.
That which hath a great tincture of mossie soile [etc.] 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 105.
The pure marble soile … is ever keep'd in corn 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 107.
That which we call our hazlie ground, is nothing else but when the soyle has a great mixture with the gravell and some little clay 1683 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 139.
This clay is not so good a sole as the other(b) 1488–9 Acta Conc. I 112/1.
Fiftj a merkisworth of land liand in competent place & gude suilȝe 1494 Acta Conc. I 361/2.
That he sall mak to the said William alsmekle [land] in als gud soilȝe as he had … before 1513 Doug. iv i 76.
Hyarbas … in the rich sulȝe triumphall Of Aufrik boundis dwelling 1513 Doug. x iii 51.
Fast by The plentuus sulȝe quhar the goldyn ryver Pactolus [etc.]c. 1683 Wodrow Hist. II (1722) 290.
John Whitelaw tenant to Roughsolesd. fig. 1641 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 254.
A plant [sc. prelacy] … which never took … with this kirk and kingdom as its kindly soil 1670 Lauder Jrnl. 231.
The present church governement, which he fand to be a fertile soyle for profanity