Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Quhittil(l, n. Also: quhit(t)ell, quhitle, whitle; thewtill. [Late ME and e.m.E. whyttell (1404), qwetyll (15th c.), whittle (a1586), var. of thwittle. Cf. Quhite v.²] A (? large) knife used as a tool or instrument. a1500 Bk. Chess 1379.
Suld he beire In his left hand a quhittill for to scher a1568 Jok & Jynny 29.
Ane rowsty quhittill to scheir the kaill 15.. Lord Fergus' Gaist 73. c1475 Wall. (1570) i 218.
Ane Scottis quhittill [MS thewtill] vnder thy belt to beir 1578 Edinb. Test. VI 197.
Thrie dosane of slicht quhittillis & knyfis 1581 Brechin Test. I 49b.
Twentie aucht quhitellis 1585 Glasgow Prot. IX 151.
And thairefter he [sc. a cooper] cuist his wirking lang quhittill at me and … ettillit on me with ane drawin quhinger Ib. 152.
For casting of the steching quhittil at the complenar 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 29 Aug.
The dusoun off quhittillis … off kniffeis skailit with hairt horne 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII 47.
Quhittellis 1597 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 209 (12 Jan.) (see Quhinsor).
Quhitle 1605 Edinb. Test. XL 226b.
Franche quhittillis 1664 Ib. LXXI 313b.
Tua gudges & tua whitles