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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Poindfald, -fauld, -fold, n. Also: poyndfald, -fauld, -falt; poynfald, -fauld; pwindfold. [f. as Poind n. and v.: cf. Pind-fauld, Pundfald and Poundfauld.]

1. A pinfold, pound.(a) 1494 Acta Aud. 185/1.
Tuiching the … doune castin of the poyndfalt of Akinbar 1494 Acta Conc. I 345/2.
Poindfald c1450-2 Howlat 781 (B) (see Pundfald n. (b)). 1621 Black Bk. Taymouth 357. 1623 Ib. 364.
Gif aney waiff horssis be fund, that they be put in ane poindfauld be the apprehendaris 1624 Ib. 366, 367.
That thair be a poindfauld biggit on the ten merk land of Clochran, and Finlay McEwin and Gillemarten McFinlay VcIllemartin to be principallis thairfoir; … on Dowinch [etc.] ane pund fauld to be biggit; … on the viii merkland of Moyerlonich … ane pind fauld [etc.] 1660 Rothesay B. Rec. 289.
It is concludit the towne big a poyndfauld at the calffward 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 159.
Such ane turbelent oppressor that keeps your peteitioners guids in no lawfull poindfold 1677 M.P. Brown Suppl. Decis. III 181.
That he put it [the horse] in a poind-fauld beside grass and water, and caused one having jurisdiction … apprise the scaith 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 354 (11 Nov.).
Decernes Daniell McMichell in ten punds for the breach of the poyndfauld(b) 1495 Acta Conc. I 420/2.
The personis forsaid … has done wrang in the distructioun of the … pettis stakkis and poynfald(c) 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. vi.
For our kirk-courtes or yardes are become more lyke pwind-folds nor burials … being … bedunged by … pasturing brute

2. transf. A place of confinement. 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 30.
Ther wer neuer suche a companey of bedlames driuin wnto ane poyndfauld [v.r. poyn-] as wee