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

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

Ȝell, v. Also: ȝel(e, ȝhell, yell, yhell. P.p. ȝellit, -yt, ȝeld. [ME and e.m.E. ȝell(en (a1225), yell (Chaucer), OE (Anglian) ᵹellan, ON gjalla.]

1. intr.To yell, cry out in a loud, high-pitched voice. b. transf. a1400 Leg. S. iv 114.
The angel … Band vs with chenȝeis fel & sar, And thus gert ws ȝele and rare a1400 Leg. S. xi 443.
[They] … ȝelland lowd held thare way a1400 Leg. S. xvi 445.
[His wife having died] Thane can hyr husband ȝol & ȝel 1513 Doug. vii vi 124.
Sum othiris [sc. women] went ȝelland vnder the lynd Quhill all the skyis of thar scryke fordynnys c1520-c1535 Nisbet St. James v 1.
Ye richemen, wepe ye, yelland [W. ȝoulynge, P. ȝellinge] in your wrechitnessis that sal cum to you 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1027 (see Ȝowt v.). 1567 G. Ball. 110.
Thay can not heir, thocht men do cry and ȝell a1605 Montg. Flyt. 13, 14 (H).
And we mell thou shall ȝell, litle cultron cuist, Thou shall tell even thy sell, and we mell thou sall ȝellb. a1400 Leg. S. ii 785.
That vgly padok … wox sa Till thai that war wele far it fra Micht her it ȝele a wele far way a1400 Leg. S. ii 850.
Thai … the padok fand In a rownd tour still ȝelland c1420 Wynt. iv 2090.
And alkyne best … Left thare stablys … And yhelland [C. ȝhellande, W. ȝoulland] ran, as thai ware wude 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 147.
This laithlie flude rumland as thonder routit, In quhome the fisch ȝelland as eluis schoutit, Thair ȝelpis wilde my heiring all fordeifit

2. a. tr.To utter as a yell, shout out. b. passive. Invoked or celebrated by acts of yelling.a. a1400 Leg. S. vii 113.
A gret menȝe com swdanly & criyt faste, & lud canne ȝele, ‘O ȝe fel folk [etc.]' 1513 Doug. v iii 85.
Throu the gild and rerd of men so ȝeld [L. plausu fremituque virum] The egyrnes of thar frendis thame beheld … all the woddis resoundisb. 1513 Doug. iv xi 51.
Thou Proserpyne, quhilk … Art rowpit hie and ȝellyt [Sm., Ruddim. ȝellit; L. ululata] lowd by nyght … with mony mudy wight