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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Thirl(l, Thril(l, Thral(l, n. (adj.). Also: thyrl(l, thirle, thyrle, thyrile, thirrill, -ell, thoyrle, thryl(l, threl(l, threlle, thralle, throl, thrale, thraill. [Thirl(l v.² Also in the later dial.]

A. noun. 1. One who is an unfree subject of a superior; a thrall, slave, serf; a captive, prisoner. Also fig. and in fig. context. Also coll.(a) 1375 Barb. i 243.
He that thryll is … All that he has embandownyt is Till hys lord 1375 Barb. i 251.
That gyff man bad his thryll owcht do a1400 Leg. S. vii 374.
For the custom wes oysit thare That quhat schepe that brokine ware A-pone that coste, suld … Be mad eschete … & the men … Suld to the prince be brocht thrillis a1400 Leg. S. xlii 107.
‘Gentil-womane ame I’ … Quod he, ‘quhy mais thu thé than thril?' … scho answert … ‘For I ame Cristis maydine … Thare-for I ame seruand' 14.. Acts I 23/2.
Gif ony mannis thryll barounis or knychtis cummys to burgh and byis a borowage and duellis in his borowage a tuelfmoneth and a day foroutyn challange of his lorde or … bailȝe he sall be evir mare fre as a burges wythin that kingis burgh a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 435.
Sen hail our doughty elderis has bene … vnchargit as thril(b) 1375 Barb. i 263.
Thai mak … comperyng Betwix the dettis off wedding And lordis bidding till his threll 1375 Barb. iii 220.
Scipio … serwandis and threllis mad he fre c1420 Wynt. iv 1599.
Threllys [C. Thrillis, W. thrallis], both bownd or carle, That oysyd before to bere and harle c1420 Wynt. vii 1540.
Than wes I threll [C. thril, W. thrall]; kyng am I nowe(c) c1420 Wynt. v 3739.
Tyll fre-man, gentyll, and to thrall [C. thralle] 14.. Acts I 389/2.
Twa sisteris frewomen hes an heretage as rychtwys ayris the tane takis a throl the tother a freman c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 39.
To bynd and louse, and maken thrallis free 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 38.
The preist for a personage, the seruand efter his wage, The thral tobe of thrillage, Langis ful sair 1513 Doug. x Prol. 127.
O thyne inestimabill luf and cheryte Becam a thrall to mak ws bondis fre 1513 Doug. xii v 37.
Quhen we as thrallys leif sal our natyve land And onto prowd tyrrantis … Salbe compellit as lordis till obey 1567 G. Ball. 60.
And sen that I becummin am his thrall, With body him serue, with mind & all my micht a1578 Pitsc. I 5/5.
Bacctus or Neptune or Pluto the thralefig. a1400 Leg. S. l 220.
Gyf thu king will be … lat resone gowerne thé Bot be the body giff thu will, Gowerne thé, thu beis a thrillcoll. a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 225/28.
The hungre meit nor thristie drink I gave Vesiit the seik nor ȝit redeme the thrall

attrib. Thrillman, a slave, serf. Thrallman, a liege man, one bound in manrent to a feudal superior. Thirle service, service done as a feudal obligation to a superior. See Thirl v.² 4.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 974.
To thrillmen & to women, & to ȝoung men als gef he lare 14.. Acts I 389/2.
Scho that hes the freman has al the heretage forthy that an thryll man may haf nan(2) 1585 Misc. Spald. C. IV 234.
Be it kend … me George Drummond of Blair to becum trew, anfald, and thrall man to a nobill and michty lord George erll of Huntlie … to serf him [etc.]

2. Thraldom, servitude, subjection; oppression. Also fig. c1475 Wall. (1570) i 13.
Thocht all leidis wald haue this land in thrall 1560 Rolland Seven S. 793.
It is better … For this impire that we all seuin suld die … Or this ȝoung man suld suffer ony thrall a1578 Pitsc. II 44/11.
All was bot chance in weirfair, the nyght in prosperatie, the morne in thraill 1585–6 Reg. Privy C. IV 43.
Meaning … to obtene the said office to himself and his airis heritablie, to the perpetuall thrall and tyrannie of the said citiefig. 1567 G. Ball. 62.
Grant me thy grace, quhom sin haldis in thrall, To fecht aganis my flesche a1568 Scott xix 27.
Sen I am bund to leif in thrall with insolens 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 319.
Lord Jesus cum, and red mee out of thrall 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 251/457.
Him quho hath redeimed us nou from creuall paigainis thralle

3. Astriction or thirlage to a mill, the obligation imposed on tenants of having the grain from their lands ground at a particular mill; the terms of such an obligation. b. The thirlage of iron-work to a particular smithy. Cf. Suk(k)in n.¹, Thirlage n. 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 166.
Ilke man sal gife a bol of quhet [etc.] … The mylnaris tende and abbe tendis falland in thar awn handis and the tende fre multyr and the stok thyrl as wunt wes 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 173 (see Multur(e n. 1 (a)).
Thyrl 1582 Laing Chart. 259.
This is the just thyrll that we fermoraris of Crummy aw to our mile quhilk was vsit in Gilbert Foidis tyme 1582 Laing Chart. 258.
Item in primis the thyrile the haile toun and grangis of Crummy to haif twa chaldyr of schilling and [of this] the fermoraris to haif ane boll and the multraris ane pec [etc.] 1588 Burntisland B. Ct. 19 April.
To giwe anser to Schir Robert Meluill … twichinge the band off thirle required be him off the said burght to his milnis 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 42.
George Pringle of Blindlie confessit the thirle of the gryst of his landis … to the mylne of Langschaw in all tymes cuming 1608 Glasgow B. Rec. I 288.
[A] suspensioun rasit at the instance of James Elphinstoun … contrar the sukin and thirle of the toun 1613 Inverness Rec. II 107.
Reservand to the saidis Johne Cuithbert of Auld castelhill and his foirsaidis the thral in maner as is aboun vreittin 1654 Stirling B. Rec. I 211.
Whilk thrie heappit capfull is … not to be alterit heirefter without consent of those who have gevin advyse as is before sett doune to this present thirleb. 1564 (1585–6) Reg. Great S. 301/2.
Our smyddie and smyddie croft land [with] the haill thirle of the irne werk of oure landis of Angus usit and wont

c. The tenants or lands, collectively, astricted to a particular mill. 1576 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 18b.
That all tennentis within the thirll of mylnis cum and laboure thair cornis at the said mylne 1597 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 169.
To bring thair cornis to be ground at the myln as vthers of the thirll dois 1606 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 27.
Anent the thirle of the mylne of Langschaw acclameit be Sir Jedeane Murray … allegeand that the tennents of Blainslie [etc.] … is and are parte thirleit to the said mylne 1683 Decis. Lords F. 48.
It being alledged for the defender that he could not be lyable for a spuilȝie … because the pursuer was carrying away to another miln the saids corns, which was a part of the thirle of his miln 1699 A. Watt Early Hist. Kintore (1865) 42.
John Summer, … did that time come to the said milne of Kintore, and bring his cornes and laboured the same therat, and pay such multur therfor as the other inhabitants within the thirle

d. attrib. Thirl multure (dewite), the duty payable to the proprietor of the mill to which a tenant is astricted. = Multur(e n. 1. Thrill malt, malt acquired as such a payment.(1) 1359 Exch. R. I 554.
Obligati sunt ad molendinum de Klonny ad molendum ibidem pro threlmultre 1406 Exch. R. IV 23.
Cum omnibus … aysiamentis, thrilmulturis … ad dicta molendina … spectantibus 1423 Holyrood Chart. 127.
Thryl multre 1471–2 Acta Aud. 21/1.
The thrill multer of the landis of Carnfyne & Carnebro 1488–9 Acta Aud. 124/2.
The wrangwis withhalding of the threll multure & sukkin awing to the said Alexanderis mylne 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 312/2.
Thirll multure 1513 Acta Conc. in Lanark B. Rec. 356.
For the wrangws deferring to pay to him and his fermoraris of the said myln the thirll multur aucht of the samyn sen the feist of Alhallomes in the yeir of God j^m v^c and ix yeris, like as thai war wont to do of thirll dewite to his predecessouris 1513 Reg. Great S. 837/1.
Thral multure 1530–1 Yester Wr. 144.
Item, owing 80 bolls of meal and 30 bolls of beir from Lyne for 12 years thirll moutir 1538 Reg. Privy S. II 393/1.
With the mylne of Baky, thirle multure, myln land, myln houssis, and thair pertinentis 1544–5 Acts & Decr. II 33.
Thyrle multure 1555 Prot. Bk. Gilbert Grote 10.
It was also provided that the said Jhone Bell should discharge the claim for thirle multure, which he had against the said Thomas, who was [to pay] during his lifetime to the said Jhone, as he should desire, ane led of beir or ane leid of malt 1592 Fam. Innes 158.
Ane sufficient chartor upon all and haill the milne and millandes and thrall and astrict multures of Kynnardie 1629 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 7 May.
The petitioun of the saidis fermoraris … aganes the said Thomas Grahame anent the thirrill multure of xvj bollis eittis half quheyit half blak 1629 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 1 Oct.
Anent ane boll of eittis and beir as the thrill multure of ane chadder of eittis and beir 1699 Argaty Baron Ct. 7 Feb.
To pey thirle multer … confirme to vse and wont wnder the paine of double multer(2) 1564–75 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I 14b.
To the bischop of Glasgw iii firlatis gersum malt vii partis half part thrill malt

B. adj. 1. Enslaved; bound in servitude. Also transf. a1500 Henr. Abbay Walk 38.
Thocht thow be lord attouir the laif And eftirwart maid bund and thrall Ane peure begger [etc.] 1533 Boece 135.
Grete nowmer of Romanis … fechting iniustlie aganis the pepill never thrall nor subiect afore 1550 Knox III 59.
The nature of God is to be frie, and thrall unto nothing a1586 Lindsay MS 45b.
That he suld deliver to Moyses the thrall pepletransf. a1568 Bann. MS I p. 3/20.
Man to redeme fra thrall captiuite

b. Bound in allegiance, obligation or service (also, to do something). 1456 Hay II 13/37.
A grete thrillage that he mon ressave with the ordre, to be thrall to the condiciouns, proprieteis, and custumes [of the order] 1527 Douglas Corr. 118.
I hald myselff addettit, bond and thrall, to accompleis ȝour grace in this and every behalve c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4492.
Ane pope, byschope, nor cardinall, To teche, nor preche, wyll nocht be thrall. Thay send furth freris for to preche for thame 1649 Sc. N. & Q. XI 44.
Cornelius Strauchan … to Wm. Sangster, younger wobster, 5 years, as thrall and bund printeis

c. fig. a1400 Leg. S. v 202.
Riche man is thril alway To twa: the tane is riches [etc.] c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 75.
Quhare bowsumnes mays fredwme threlle 1456 Hay I 28/9.
For he is thrall and subiect to the gude c1420 Ratis R. App. iv 8.
Sen word is thrall and thocht is only free 1490 Irland Mir. II 31/25.
This innemy was presoneir thrall and subiekt to Jhesus c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 38/12.
Be nevir mair on to thir vicis thrall c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 909.
I was ane fre man lait ȝistrene, And now ane catiue bound and thrall; For ane that I think flour of all c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 228.
Adew my ladies all. During my ȝouth, … Ȝe knaw how I was in ȝour seruice thrall c1552 Lynd. Mon. 817.
Als, to the deith thay wer nocht thrall 1559 Knox VI 48.
That no woman may be exalted above anie realme … to make the libertie of the same thrall to a stranger 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5723.
Gif Ypocras to seiknes had bene thrall 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5872.
Se to inuy ȝe be not thrall 1567 Acts III 27/2.
Persauing … the quene sa thrall, and swa blindlie affectionat to the priuate appetyte of that tyrane 1567 Sat. P. iv 99.
Quhat toung sa thrall in silence suir can rest?

2. Bound in or by thirlage, astricted to (a mill). = Thirl(l)it ppl. adj.² 2. Cf. thrall suckin (Suk(k)in adj.). 1450–51 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 85, 86.
Item thryl to the deray corn and meil and rycht swa to the seriand that is to say of ylke husband an thraf of corn [etc.] … and of ylke coter an pek … Item thyrl to the smethy of ix ferlotis of meil of the pluch Item the bygyn of the smethy 1478–9 Acta Aud. 69/2.
In lachfull possessioun … of the multur of the landis of Kincaldrum & of the cornis of the sammyn as thirl to ther mylne 1498 Acta Conc. II 195.
It is desyrit be the sade Wilyeame that the sadis landis be fre of the paying of multer to the sade James … myln … and desyrit be the said James … to be thoyrle til his myln forsaid [etc.] 1558–9 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 158.
Be ressoun ane fre burgh can nocht be thrall till ony annuall exactione or dewete 1582 Laing Chart. 258.
This is the dewite quhilkis we fermoraris of the grangis of Crummy haldin of the abbay of Culros … auchit to do to ouir mile that we ar thyrll to callit Foidis mill 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 309.
And to heir thame [sc. maltmen] decernit thirle to the said mylnis 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 331.
He was never challenged as thirrell nor summond to come to the mylne 1672 Argaty Baron Ct. 13 July.
The saidis tennentis … who ar thirle thairto ar heirby decerned to theik and repair the said milne sufficiently wattertight