A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Rikill,) Ri(c)kle, n.1 Also: rikkill, rickill, ricle; rekill. [Cf. Norw. dial. rygla small loose heaps of objects; Swed. dial. rögel, Dan. dial. røgel heap of peats; ON hraukr small pile of peats. See also Rikilln.2 and Rikill v.]
1. A pile or stack of peats.1565 (1585–6) Reg. Great S. 304/1.
½ lie ricle lie turffis a mora de Scona 1566 (1584) Ib. 235/2.
10 lie riklis glebarum vulgo turffis 1582 Edinb. Test. XI 221b.
Rikkillis of turris 1600 (1602) Reg. Great S. 445/2.
6 lie rickles glebarum 1700 Black Bk. Kincardineshire 130.
He did hide the said web amongst a rickle of truffs
2. A loosely constructed heap or pile of things.a1500 Henr. Fab. 2537 (Ch.).
The volff ran till ane rekill [H. quhill ane strand] stude behind him 1603 Philotus 246.
Ȝe sall haue … Rickillis of gould and jewellis 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 38.
It is to make the louse stones fall out, that he may gather them together in a rickle by themselves
