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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Wel(l, Wal(l, Wol(l, n. Also: wel(l)e, vel(l, uell, weld, weill, vall, wa(i)le, waill, vol, woill, wooll; (Wheel). [ME and e.m.E. wælle, welle (both Layamon), walle (a1225), well, wall (both Cursor M.), wulle (c1315), wel (1538), OE wielle, Angl. wælla, wella, ON vella. Cf. Weil(l n.]

1. A source of water, a spring, a pool or stream fed by a spring. Also attrib. as well eys (cf. E n. 4 a and c), well heid (Hede n.¹ 7 c), well pethe (cf. Peth n. 2 a) and welstrynde, the stream flowing from a spring. See also Wellcars n.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 319.
& in the mydis the altere A quyk wel sprang 1388–9 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
To the ester wele of Sanct Johnnis 1388–9 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
Well c1420 Wynt. i 129.
Out of that welle cummys fludis foure … Ganges, … Tyger, Nyle and Ewfrates c1450 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 248.
Descendand to the Hartuellys and swa dovn the strynde of that wellis til it enter in a burne c1450-2 Howlat 305 (A).
Thai … Walis wyslie the wayis, be wooddis & wellis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 31.
Birkin bewis about, boggis and wellis a1500 Henr. Fab. 2618.
Ane cruell volff … past to ane reueir Descending from ane rotche vnto ane well; To slaik his thrist drank of the watter cleir a1500 Seven S. 2154.
A fair well on the grene sprang And grewe thairefter in a flude 1493 Reg. Episc. Morav. 250.
Vell 1513 Doug. xii xiii 61.
I swer … be the onplesand well [L. fontis] Of Stix 1535 Stewart 26688.
Out of ane woll discendant fra ane spring, He send that tyme cald water for to bring c1590 Fowler I 53/151.
The ins that I did tak … was then the wellis and woods, The fountanis rivers [etc.] ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 73, 74.
Upon the heid of this know thair is ane spring and fresh water well. This well trewlie springis up certane little round quhyte things … likest to … ane little cockle [Descr. Isles 24a in Skene Celtic Scotland III 430, in this ile is ane weill quhairin growis cockles] … Out of this well thair rynnis ane little strype downwith to the sea(b) 1609 Irving Dumbartonsh. II 291.
Lands, rents, tenements … crofts, welds, fishings, muirs(c) 1509 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 353.
Discendand to ane faire rynnand wale … and sa evin dovne the stripe of that waile quhil it cum to the mosattrib. 1457 Liber Aberbr. II 97.
Predictum riuulum … ad le welstrynde wulgariter appellatum Cardynis Well 1531 Bell. Boece I 170.
Thay knew nocht the ground and fell sometimes in swardis of mossis and sum time in well eys 1534 Bamff Chart. 65.
Quhill it cum to ane blind well heid anent the entries of ane burn 1585 Echt-Forbes Chart. 122.
Ane harne of stanes sett … att the heid of ane well ee c1650 Lanark & R. 129.
Daer water, flowing from the well pethe … before it fall in Clide

b. In place names. (1) With reference to a spring, etc. Also attrib. (2) Applied to the land, etc. named after a particular spring. Also attrib.(1) c1190 Liber Calchou 54.
De sursa fontis de Kalde Welle 1203–22 Reg. Episc. Morav. 273.
Et sicut maresium illud vadit usque ad Blynd Wollis et ita usque ad novum fossatum [etc.] 12… Reg. Dunferm. 223.
Ascendendo ad fontem qui vocatur Howwell 1304 Reg. Episc. Glasg. I xxxiv.
Fontem quendam qui dicitur meduwel 1306 Reg. Dunferm. 410.
Ad fontem qui vocatur le Crikwell 13… Reg. Neubotle in Orig. Par. I 214.
[To the burn which flows from] Kynggewoll 1466 Chart. Coupar A. II 59.
Ad quemdam fontem dictum le blynd Well 1466–7 (1471) Reg. Great S. 215/1.
Thynn to the burn well and sa furth as the strinde of it rynnis in the northburn 1487 Liber Coll. Glasg. in Orig. Par. I 14.
Vicus Piscatorum juxta le Stok Wel 1493 Reg. Episc. Morav. 250.
Fra the Cragwell to the Redstan liniali 1556 Peebles B. Rec. I 230.
Land callit Burrelfeild passand west … to the Blind Well syke 1556 Peebles B. Rec. I 230.
Passand southeist … to Bechat welheid 1603 Reg. Great S. 506/2.
Passing fra Lamberheavin to Sanct-Bais-wall ?16… McKay Kilmarnock 302.
The Willie Wand Wheel(2) 1159 Liber Calchou vi.
Ecclesiam de Macchuswel 1195 Reg. St. A. 323.
Kersewelle 1214–49 Liber Melros I 241.
De terra de Creswel 1294 Reg. Paisley 94.
Ad metas de Caldwell ?12… Reg. Dunferm. 190.
Terras totas de Potwell … Well medow cum well flat 1359 Exch. R. I 571.
Welcroft 1367 Reg. Great S. 93/2.
Terras suas vallis de Lethane 1399 Hist. Carnegies 500.
Toftam tritotam vulgo vocatam the woll with the tre lawis 1405 Reg. St. A. 422.
Vna cum illa parte prati nostri de Weldene 1434 Hist. Carnegies 512.
Juxta ly Weltre seminare cum auenis, et vocabatur ly Wellflat c1475 Wall. ix 1158.
Ner Scotlandis Well thair lugyng tuk 1490 Reg. Paisley 265.
Usque ad venellam justa le Welmedow 1508 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 465.
Ad … angulum de Ballochbegy que dicitur Grenewelheid 1511 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 373.
Megstratht ij aratra … cum Mareuell

2. A source of water used for domestic purposes, chiefly a source of drinking water; a structure designed to capture or supply water for drinking, etc.; a draw-well or drinking fountain. Also in the name of a particular well.(a) 1375 Barb. v 412.
Syne tuk he salt … & ded hors and fordid the well c1450-2 Howlat 678 (A).
All thus thai mufe to the meit, and the merschale Gart bring watter to wesche, of a well cleire a1500 Henr. Fab. 2392.
Than till ane draw well thir senȝeours past … The schadow off the mone schone in the well a1500 Seven S. 1117.
Quhen he the rusche herd in the well He wend that scho had drownit hire sell a1500 Seven S. 1623.
He … maid a well for thair drinkyn 1517 Buchan Cl. II 136.
The tenands of the Candelane sal tak thayir wattir at the nerrest wel of the northsid of the Candelane 1531–2 Treas. Acc. VI 49.
For cordis and mending of the well xij d. 1543 Elgin Rec. I 76.
Vell 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 23.
Drank of ane well that wes gane drye sevin ȝeir 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II 277.
Four hespis and stappillis to the closin of the liddes of the well 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 460a.
To ane maisoun for making the boit hoillis to the vx standeris off the well … x s. 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS (18 Nov.).
Ilk inhabitant … to big ther wells thrie foot height round about(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 841.
Thane delfyt thai … & mad a wele, that to this day Of rycht gud watyre rynnis ay(c) 1542 Elgin Rec. I 72.
That hir moder was drownit in ane wal 1558 Edinb. Old Acc. I 266.
Expensis maid upone Muys Well … For twa bukatts to draw the wattir … to David Grahame … hewin at the well … ane man at the wall with the said David helpand to dres the stanis 1567 Lanark B. Rec. 39.
That na personis wysche ony clathis … at the burne nor yit at Sanct Mungois wall 1568 Edinb. B. Rec. III 250.
The thesaurer to caus theik and cover the Stok wall, Muse wall, and Sanct Michaellis wall … and thes wallis tilbe oppinit for seruing of the nychtbouris at fyve houris in the mornyng and tua efter none in somer, to be closit at xij houris opinit at tua and cloisit at four for all nycht 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 705.
For finding of a wall … within the said castell 1597 Crim. Trials II 26.
Scho … tuke ane of the said Androis sarkis … and bad her dip it in the wall at the bak of the hous 1630 Glasgow B. Rec. I 373.
The new woll in the Trongait to be sklaittit in the best forme 1638 Glasgow B. Rec. I 390.
Ane warrand … for taking doun the wall at the croce 1640 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 429.
Bukittis … for the bak wall 1656 Banff Ann. I 139.
That na person … brak any pairt of the calsey in diging walis thairin for watter 1680 Banff Ann. I 159.
The building of the King Wall for accommodatione of watter to the toun(d) 15.. Clar. v 1107.
I ges them ȝit bot at the woll … Without the toune that standis by the trie 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 294.
Woill 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 85.
Ane … poysonit woll to drink 1575 Glasgow B. Rec. I 457.
To Johne Wilsoun for four geistis to the woll in Gallowgait … viij lib. 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 215.
To the quariouris … for sinking the wooll(e) 1559 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 296.
Waill 1673 Greyfriars Interments 410.
Waill(f) 1625 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 165.
For laying over the great quheill of the weill of the castell of Edinburghe and standartis thairof with bolle and oyle of linget

b. Further examples of Draw-well n. 1550 Treas. Acc. IX 416.
For ane gret tow to the draw well in the castell, iiij li. xij s. 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 112.
Ane pillie of ane draw well 1625 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 165.
For ane chenyie to the draw well

c. attrib. and comb.attrib. (1) a1400 Leg. S. vi 94.
Servand mad hym ȝare … The velvatter for to brynge 1513 Doug. iv xii 81.
Fech hiddir sone the well watir lew warm, To wesch hir woundis 1584–5 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 393.
Dischargeing all browsters … baxters, or siclyke, to tak ony of the said well watter to thair occupatiouns(2) 1566 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 102.
The welhous. Ane bukkat bandit with irne 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 51.
Ane gryit well buket—xl s. 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 51.
For bodduming of the foirwell buket 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 216.
For spyssing the wooll tow 1652 Edinb. Test. LXVI 85a.
Ane wall bucket 1657 Lanark B. Rec. 159.
The counsell appoyntis the welheid to be cassin and set about with stanes or staikes 1663 Edinb. Test. LXXI 102b.
Ane wort pomp & well pomp c1670 Douglas Chart. 343.
In the welchamber nothing except the wel tow and bucket(3) c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 12.
Christ withe the womann off Samaria be the welle sydecomb. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Aquilex, ane woll maker

d. transf.A pit filled with water, used for executing criminals. Cf. Pit(t n.¹ 4. 1622-6 Bisset I 64/31.
That frie baronis sall caus mak jebettis pittis and wellis, viz. pottis and gallowes, for executioun of all cryminall persones

3. A spring or source of water which has supernatural, miraculous or medicinal properties; a holy well. Also in place names. Also vle well, = oly well (Olȝe n. 2 c). Also attrib.(1) 1580 Skeyne Descr. Well Sig. A 2.
Ane breif descriptioun of the qualiteis and effectis of the well of the Woman Hill besyde Abirdene … the profeit and phisical vertew of ane fontaine hes bene obseruit … at Abirdene … Quhilk spring of watter [etc.] 1581 Acts III 212/2.
The dregges of idolatrie, ȝit remanis … be vsing of pilgramage to sum chappellis, wellis, croces [etc.] 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 668.
I am persuadit of the vertu & valour of the bathis & wellis in this contrie 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 298.
Reasing the devill with … south rinning wellis 1587-99 Hume 44/104.
What vails the waters of the wols, or pardons of a preist 1621 Perth Kirk S. 7 May.
That … the officer … tak wp the nameis of thois that past on Sonday to the woll in the bank of Ruthuen 1643 Strathbogie Presb. 37.
James Vatt … being summondit … for his disobedience to the session of Gairtlie, in not satisfieing for his going in pilgrimage to vallis and chappellis … compeired not 1657 Sc. Cal. Customs I 159.
Bessie Thomson … declairit scho went to the well at Airth, and that schoe left money thairat 1664 Elgin Rec. II 303.
Jeane Winster cited … for goeing to the chapell wall(2) 1581 Sc. Hist. Rev. III 26.
Superstitious ceremonies, pilgrimages to Chrysts Well [in Menteith], fasting, benfyres [etc.] 1603 Crim. Trials II 422.
For cureing of Sara Borthuik, be his sorcerie … be bringing of south-rynand-watter fra the Schyreff-brayis-wall 1623 Crim. Trials II 538.
Scho went … to the Well of Ruthuen … bringing watter from thence, to wasch Johne Gowis bairne 1630 Moray Synod 31.
That numbers of people resorted unto the wallis of Tabborquheymie and Cruden well 1654 Blairs P. 94.
Our king went from Paris a fourtnight agoe towards the Wall of Spa 1665 Sc. N. & Q. 3 Ser. IX 54.
For going to the superstitious wall off Diple commonly called Our Lady of Grace 1670 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 264.
That medicinall wall at the Womanhill, commonly called the Wall of Spae(3) 1496 Mill Mediæv. Plays 226.
The craft passit to the vle well(4) attrib. 1605 Misc. Maitl. C. I 405.
Thair ar superstitious rites … as passing to ane well in Menteithe with ane sick barne, and fetching of well water to ane sick women 1628 Stirling Ant. IV 186.
He gave him … directioun to wasche his body in southe running well water

4. a. transf.Applied to the eyes as a source of (abundant) tears or wounds of blood. a1500 Lufaris Compl. 127.
In vellis tuo ar changit for wo myne eyne Arundel MS 280/50.
The haly wellis of teris quhilk Thow furthȝet in the passioun of Thy Sone c1500 Makc. MS xv 39.
Behald my crois quhow Jowis it dang With … schurges lang [gap in MS] of wellis the blud done rang

b. fig.A source of something, chiefly non-material. Also absol. c1450-2 Howlat 97 (A).
The Pape … of worschipe the well 1456 Hay I 19/24.
Thare is ane othir well in … Cristis hert that is of his humanitee cummand, the quhilk well of manlyk lufe and kyndenes he schew us … the day of his passioun a1500 Henr. Fab. 2450, 2454.
Wa worth the well of that wickit vyce … Christ keip all Christianis from that wickit well a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 2 (M) (see Valé n. 2). 1490 Irland Mir. I 26/4.
He is … well and fontane of all gudnes a1500 Bk. Chess 2185, 2187.
Tharfor frome wycis suld ȝe set ȝour thocht And of wertew the well it suld be socht … Iesu The ground of grace the well of all werteu ?a1500 Obsecro 15.
Lady Mary … Lampe of licht, … Well of perdoun c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxvii 7.
Blyth Aberdein, thow beriall of all tounis … The vall of velth, guid cheir, and mirrines a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 339 (M).
I … dulcelie drank of eloquence the well and fontane 1533 Gau 27/20.
The bibil … is the grund and vol of al godlie doctrine c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1378.
Thow was … werie well of worthines a1568 Scott x 26.
I lufe no mo Bot hir—the well of womanheid 1587-99 Hume 50/110.
He made the Sun … A woll of heate to shine by day 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 17.
They ken not the gate to this well of life 1635 Dickson Wr. 109.
Hold to the well of Christ's blood; to that clean waterabsol. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 209.
We ar weschele, bot wele is He, That fillis all of His plente