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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Valé, Valay, Vail(l, n. Also: valey, -ee, -y(e, -i(e, walé, wala, walee, vail(l)é, vaillie, -ay, vallé, -ay, -ey, wallye, val(e, wale, vail(l)e, wail, waill(e, wayill, valle, wall. Pl. also valais, valis, valys, walays, walis, waillis, vayles, vallis, wallis, valeyse. [ME and e.m.E. ualeye (c1290), valeie (1297), wale (Cursor M.), vale (Rolle), valey (14th c.), vaile (a1400-50), valley (1535), vail (1618), vaille (1655), vally, vallie (both 1667), OF val(ee, AF pl. valeys, L. vallis, vallem.]

1. A valley or vale, low ground esp. between hills or mountains, a dip or depression in an area of land. a. Disyllabic examples, identified on the evidence of rhyme words or spelling. b. Ambiguous examples. c. Monosyllabic examples, identified as in a above. d. Without article. e. In place-names, chiefly const. of a particular valley or vale. f. Personified.a. sing. 1375 Barb. vii 4.
In-till the wod sone entryt he & held doun towart a wale [: he; C. vale] 1375 Barb. xi 433.
Wale [: mengne] 1460 Hay Alex. 1299.
Thai past endlangis be ane valee [: Tholome] 1513 Doug. ii xi 114.
A valy [Sm., Ruddim. valey] deip 1533 Boece 569b².
To fecht with thame in the valay thai wald fra strenth of the hill discend 1596 Dalr. I 43/12.
A certane valey or dale in Rosse 1622-6 Bisset II 414/23.
Fra the name of the monttanes that is called Wallis Umbra or Umbrosa the Schaddo Valey(b) ?1438 Alex. i 2204.
Vaillie 1533 Boece 209a.
Diuers war … drevin downe bakwart to the vaillay(c) 1513 Doug. viii x 35.
A dern valle [: sche; Sm. valle, Ruddim. valee] 1567 Inverness Rec. I 156.
Ane mering inteannye [? erron. for inch in the] wallye and larychis betuix the landis of Culcabok … and the burne of the inchis 1596 Dalr. I 12/10.
The worde strath (quhilke signifies a vallay)pl. 1375 Barb. xi 185 (C).
Bath hyllis and valayis [E. walis] helit thai ?1438 Alex. i 2129.
Hillis na valeyis sparit he … The narrest way … hes tane ?1438 Alex. ii 55.
Valleis [: antiquiteis; F. valées] c1400 Troy-bk. i 419.
Walays c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1666, 1667.
From hicht of the sumiteis Descendand amongis the waleis … the waleis mais All wete 1549 Compl. 110/33.
Sum tyme he past to the montannis, and sum tyme to the valeis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6033.
Than sall one fyre … Mak all the hyllis and valais plane c1590 Fowler II 108/28.
Valyeis 1596 Dalr. I 12/3.
Our cuntrey men vses valayes to cal dales 1596 Dalr. I 31/22.
In sum glenis or vallayes 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 4.
The valies which doe ly upon the banks of these rivers and inlets … ar called strathes 1668 Creswell Royal Coll. Surgeons Edinb. 151.
He is to keep clear the banks, bunkers & valleys(b) 1549 Compl. 170/34.
The smallest treis that grouis in the valeyseb. sing. 1460 Hay Alex. 1235.
In ane vale rycht be ane reuer syde c1515 Asl. MS I 313/2.
Seruandis tarijt in the vale quhen he [sc. Abraham] & his sone ascendit to the mont c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 248.
Suete war the vapouris, … Halesum the vale [M. vaill] depaynt wyth flouris ying 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxiii.
The land crukis in with ane gret discens and vale 1531 Bell. Boece II 33.
Ane vale [M. waill] of sic mos and miris, that nane of thir armyis micht cum togiddir a1538 Abell 51b.
The treis that ar plantit on a hecht … tak ane greit preis of the wynd bot thai that ar plantit in ane wale hes les(b) 1494 Deidis of Armorie 31.
A fontan wes in the vaille [F. valee] of a medow betuix the twa townis 1533 Boece 231b.
New namez owder be ane … notabill lowch ryver flude hedeland, promontoure, vaille … war assignit 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 277.
The' aryv'd upon the montaines hie [etc.] … But in the vaile Ascanius doth abide(c) 1513 Doug. i iv 52.
The mekil herdis … pasturit all the large valle [Sm. vaile, Ruddim. vale] about 1513 Doug. viii iv 51.
Endland ȝone valle [Sm., Ruddim. vaill] that is large and wyde 1513 Doug. viii iv 109.
Doun from the hillys hyght To rest hym is he to the valle [Sm. valley, Ruddim. vale is] gonepl. 1494 Loutfut MS 131a.
The way of the cuntreis quhar the host sal happin to pas, the valis, the qualiteis of the wayis [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxii.
It [sc. Ross] is … richt plentuus baith of gers and corn; for thir hailsum valis quhare the rivers discendis makis the herbis richt … nurisand 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 35.
The Scottis … fynding the montanis and walis thame aboute [etc.](b) c1400 Troy-bk. i 471.
Hillis and waillis fer & nere 1625 Fugitive Poetry II v 4/36.
This eccho smote the hills, the hills rebounded Back on the vayles(c) c1420 Wynt. viii 5692.
The Dowglas … That in till vallis [C. wallis, W. waillis] nere thare-by Enbuschid hymc. sing. 1549 Compl. 66/26.
Thai dancit … the dance of Kylrynne, the vod and the val, schaik a trot(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 7366.
Thay rusit thame that ane houndreth thousand Of scheildis sould about thame stand Bot me had leuer of gude ane haue Than ane vaill full of ill to craue [F. Miex vaut un pau de bien que plain val de refus] c1475 Wall. iv 211.
Abown Lekkie he lugyt thaim in a waille [: assaill] c1475 Wall. v 1069.
Waill c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 60/28.
Hir sound went with the rever as it ran Outthrow the fresche and flureist lusty vaill [: nychtingaill] 1513 Doug. iv iv 53.
Vaill [: taill; Ruddim. vale] 1528 Lynd. Dreme 819.
Off this countre [sc. Scotland] the gret commoditeis … for our cornis, mony lusty vaill [: bestiall] 1531 Bell. Boece II 298.
Throw the vail that lyis to the gret eist fra the said castell, quhare now lyis the Canongait 1533 Bell. Livy I 50/28.
Hostilius … led the batall … in the law vail vnder mont Capotoll 15.. Clar. iv 1611.
When mistie vapours rysis from the vaile, And leavis hinging full of silver haill 1558 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXIII 102.
Be ane vaill littill bewest the said burn 1565 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 28b.
The gren wayill that lyis betuix the ȝaird of Patrick Duncansoun [etc.] a1568 Scott xiv 16.
The wallowit weidis in the vaillpl. 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 175.
In lusty valys [: palys; Ruddim. valis] … The bustuus bukkis rakis furth on raw 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xxi 102.
Vailsd. ?1438 Alex. i 47.
He that land knew halely, Baith strait, plane and valie c1475 Wall. iv 684.
To rype the wood, bath wala, slonk and slaide. (1) 1460 Hay Alex. 945.
Thai passit throw Macedon vale [: me](2) 1375 Barb. xviii 557 (C).
Thai … distroyit … The vale [E. wale, 1571 waill] haly of Beauvare a1400 Leg. S. ii 285.
In the wale of Comptone [read Campione; L. valle pugilum] I haf him lefte beowt the towne ?1438 Alex. i 2153.
The vale of Iosaphas ?1438 Alex. ii 3111.
The wall of Iosaphas c1420 Wynt. i 73.
That in the felde of Damask fayre … Or in the wale [E. walle, W. vale] of Ebron c1420 Wynt. i 328.
The wale [E. wail, W. vaill] of Hebrown c1420 Wynt. viii 4363.
A cumpany … wa[l]kand In till the vale [C. wail] off Anand 1460 Hay Alex. 3326.
In vail of Josephall thai bade 1460 Hay Alex. 3416.
Furth thai ride … Off Josaphail endlang the fare walee [: se] a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 726 (Asl.).
The place of iustice was wale of Josaphat 1566–7 Reg. Privy S. V ii 289/2.
The abbay and place of Charterouris besyde the burgh of Perth callit the Vaill of Virtewpl. 1535 Stewart 22901.
All Gallowa and walis of Annand, And all the dalis on the efter hand 1535 Stewart 54868.
Nethisdaill and vallis of Annand, The Mers, Tueiddaill and Tiuidaill 1587 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 187 (19 Feb.).
The plesant walees of Mark and Ley, the quhyte hillis and mountanis that compassis thame(3) 1513 Doug. i Prol. 127.
The worthy clerk hecht Lawrens of the Vaill [sc. Lorenzo Valla]f. 1570 Sat. P. xv 1.
Ȝe montaines, murne; ȝe valayis, vepe

2. fig. Esp. const. of murnyng, trubbill, etc., applied to the world or earthly existence.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 7366.
Me had leuer of gude ane haue Than ane vaill full of ill to craue a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 2.
This mortall se, Quhilk is the vaill [Maitl. well] of mvrnyng and of cair c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 175/7.
O wreche be war: this warld … this vaill of trubbill and dissait a1538 Abell 2a.
Thai … wes expellit out of Paradis in this waill of miserite a1550 Lang Rosair 48.
This waille of mesery c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5077.
We lyke pylgramis … trauellyng throw this vaill of sorrow 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 65.
The … breuitie of tymis, maneris and of men in this wale of teiris 1570 Sat. P. xvii 178.
Thir walis of wo 1605 Edinb. Test. XL 14b.
My wyff and childrene I recommend … to the protectioun of … God … throw this waill of miserie(2) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4980.
Ȝitt or we passe furth of this vaill I pray ȝow geue me ȝour counsaill Quhat I sall do … To wyn the glore euirlestyng 1551 Hamilton Cat. 23.
Behald … thy wais quhilk thow hes gaine in the vail [L. convalle] or den quharin thow usit to commit ydolatrie 1570 Sat. P. xvii 15.
This warld is but fraill … Princes … He … ordanit in this vaill Us to conduct a1585 Maitl. Q. 204/95.
This world is bot ane vaill most miserabill

3. ? A ditch, translating Latin vallo or ? erron. for pale. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xix 43.
Thin ennimyes sal cumpas thee with a vale [W., P. pale; AV trench; Vulg. vallo]

4. A section or division of a garden. 1622 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 151.
Coft … to the kingis south yaird dykis and divyding the grae vallayes from the reid vallayes twa dossoune and sax wicker sparres

5. transf. The inhabitants of a valley or vale. c1475 Wall. x 999.
Thus … the castellis off Scotland King Eduuard … has tane … Baith hycht and waill obeyed all till his will

6. attrib. With fild (= field), ground, side. Also valley bowles, a game of some sort.(1) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 39.
I walkit furth on be ane valay syde 1621 Perth Kirk S. in Spottiswoode Misc. II 300.
Great plenty of corns in all parts, … being on haughs and valley ground, were carried away by the waters 1624 Huntar Weights & Measures 31.
The rule for measvring of mountaine land, and of valley ground 1674 Sc. Ant. I 177.
To the grive in the valifild for cols(2) 1610 S. Leith Rec. 8.
Thair sall be na public playing suffred on the Sabbath dayes As playing at the valley bowles, at the peney stane, archerie, gowfe, &c.