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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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S(c)held, S(c)heild(e, n.¹ Also: schelde, chelde, s(c)hel(e; scheyld(e, cheild, s(c)heil(l, shield, scheeld. [ME and e.m.E. shelde (c1200), schelde (a1250), seelde (Layamon), sceild (Cursor M.; v.rr. shilde, schild), OE sceld.]

1. A shield; an article of armour, carried in the hand or attached to the arm or body, to ward off strokes or thrusts from hostile weapons. Also attrib. with ledderis.In (4) below, referring to the tapering shape of one kind of shield.Freq., linked with hauberc, also helm, to emphasise the defensive role of the shield, or in collocation with spere, in lit. and fig. applications, signifying the need to be prepared for both attack and defence in combat.(1) 1375 Barb. vi 219.
Saw he with the monys lycht Schynyng of scheldys gret plente a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 943.
Thai saw apere A knycht … With a red croice in the schelde ?1438 Alex. i 991.
His scheld was gold … and in the cantel wes set ane flour c1420 Wynt. viii 5192.
‘Lordis, on qwhat manere Will yhe ryn at this justyng here?’ ‘Wyth plate [C. playn, W. vplasit] scheldis,’ sayd Ramsay 1456 Hay II 47/26, 27, 32.
Schelde or targe is gevin to the knycht in signifiaunce that as office of schelde is to be the targe betuix the knycht and the strakis, sa suld the knycht be betuix … his lorde and the strakis. … And as schelde is couplit to the knychtis brest … sa suld the knycht be till his lorde bounde in lautee 1494 Loutfut MS 32b.
And on his nek hingis a gret scheild and is hungin with stark ligatures sua that be na force that scheld may be tane fra him c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 151.
Than come Resoun with schelde of gold so clere, In plate and maille a1538 Abell 25a.
The Romanis kepit thame with thare scheldis(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 4110.
With scheildis and schulderis halely Thay hurklit quhill to the erd ȝeid thay Ib. 4485.
He couerit him with scheild ilk deill Ib. 8930.
That he brist all the sheild of steill And the laces euerilk deill a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 689.
Throu thair schene scheildis thair schuldiris var schent a1500 Rauf C. 459.
Semelie schapin and schroud in that scheild schene 1494 Loutfut MS 32b (see (a) above). 1513 Doug. xi v 33.
Thar onsilly scheildis, Quhilk mycht thame nocht defend 1535 Stewart 31040.
Scheildis … War maid to fall 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I 128.
For xij halbardis and xij schenne scheildis with the townis armis in thame 15.. Clar. v 2023.
Cheildis a1586 Lindsay MS 47b.
Quhair ony man puttis vp his armes with his tymmerall and the scheild hingand thairat he suld ay hing it be the rycht nwke of the targatattrib. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 22.
Clath of gold to covir the kingis scheild and scheild ledderis(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 921.
This ioyful martyr can apere … Berand the scheld of siluir schene Of gwlis with a croice ?1438 Alex. i 890.
[They] lap on thair steidis styth And embraissit thair scheldis swyth Ib. ii 1596.
And syne the scheild he can on brais a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 516.
To beir his scheild his breist began to tyre a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 950.
The scheld in countir he kest our his cleir weid c1500 Interl. Droich 106.
Sa lang I haif borne scheild That I am crynit in for eild 1513 Doug. ii x 199.
Abowt me than my swerd I belt agane, And schot my left arme in my scheild(3) c1475 Wall. v 446.
On a braid scheyld [1570sword] his fadyr gert him swer He suld be trew till Wallace(4) 1375 Barb. xvi 385.
The entre wes … wid And as a scheild it narowit ay Quhill at … the way Wes nocht a pennystane cast of breid(5) ?1438 Alex. i 1982.
He smot the douchty Gaudifere Throw scheild, haubrek, and all his gere Ib. ii 9349.
Thare hapned oft, quhare he was raith, Scheildis be hewin and helmes baith c1420 Wynt. iv 546.
Mony a hawberk, mony a scheld [C. scheylde, W. scheild], Was all to frwschyd left in felde 1460 Hay Alex. 1522.
[He] strak him quyte throw scheild hawbrek and cors Ib. 1895.
Bot Alexander haid persit him the scheild His hawbrek also was to him no beild a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 484.
Ane helme set to ilk scheild, … With fel lans on loft, lemand ful light a1500 Lanc. 2580.
One goith the scheildis, and the helmys last 1513 Doug. x x 25.
The tother … Buyr at hym mychtyly with a lang speir Throw owt hys scheild of pays Ib. xii xiv 95.
Quhilk throu the hawbrik skyrtis persyt has, And the extreme bordour gan arras Of hys strang scheild, cowchit of sevyn ply(6) c1475 Wall. viii 765.
The worthy Scottis that bauldly durst abid, With sper and scheild, for gownnys had thai nayn a1500 Bk. Chess 1047.
How suld the teile man in the tyme of weire Or men of craftis go to scheild or speir c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 106/16.
Quhai … with speir and scheld, Preiffis maest mychttelye in the feld c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 237.
Weill practikit with speir and scheild Ib. 1138.
Upon his kneis he did him ȝeild, Deliuerand him baith speir and scheild c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 75.
How I haue stand in monie stalwart strife Uictoriouslie with speir sheild sword & knife c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 286.
Hewmond on heid, sword, buklar, scheild and speir c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2768.
Fordwart he cam with speir and scheilde 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5502.
The towre … Was cassin doun but scheild or speir, throw wilynes a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS 288a/82.
And nevir to beir in amouris speir nor scheild a1568 Scott i 182.
Enarmit knychtis at listis with scheild and speir, To fecht in barrowis bayth on fute and hors a1570-86 Balnaves Maitl. F. 357/40.
Adew baythe speir and scheild a1578 Pitsc. I 10/10.
Quhair money nobillis was slaine with speir and scheild 1596 Dalr. II 129/16.
Baith pairties … cum to Dunfreis, thair tha diuyde it with speir and scheild

b. Vnder (a, one's) scheld, prepared for, or engaged in, warlike action; under arms. To de vnder … scheld, to die in action. c. In some quots. with literal implication: Beneath one's shield, protected by one's shield. Also fig. under (one's) protection.b., c. c1420 Wynt. vii 330 (W).
Thare mony deit than vnder scheild 1460 Hay Alex. 852.
Quhan thai inarmit ar and couerit vnder scheild Than sall men knaw quha worth is Ib. 2390.
Philip [was] left woundit … In point of ded lyand vnder scheild Ib. 3130.
Mony ane hedles helm left in the feild, And mony ane knycht dede lyand vnder scheild, And mony ane speir [etc.] a1500 Lanc. 619.
Rather I shall knychtly in to feild Resaue my deith anarmyt wnder sheld a1500 Bk. Chess 1051.
The Romans held … Ane legioun in armes vnder scheild a1568 Kennedy Bann. MS 268a/25.
Bettir it war ane man to serf With wirchep and honour vndir a scheild Nor hir to pleis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 110/58.
O strong invincible Hector undir scheild 1513 Doug. x xi 98.
Richt haltandly, as curageus vnder scheild Ib. xi vi 68.
All thai that in the feld … hes swelt vnder scheld 1535 Stewart 7544.
The inwart watche … In gude array weill schrudit wnder scheild Ib. 34325.
Full mony one rycht cald wnder his scheild, That samin da la deid into the feild 15.. Clar. i 1276.
Hardie knichts … As ony micht be helmed wnder scheild a1568 Scott ii 24.
Quhair baith thir noble chiftanis mett, Enarmit vndir scheildfig. a1450 Fifteen Ois 109.
Grant me for to find … Vnder Thi scheild defence of heill

2. fig. and transf. a. Of a person: A defender; a protector. b. Of a material or non-material thing: (A means of) defence; protection. See also vnder (one's) scheild at 1 c fig. above.a. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 2672.
Of gud nichtbour the wyse makes sheild c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 109/13.
Welcum … oure scheild and our defence 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3.
He wes our mychte pavis and our scheild; Dunb. (STS) xxxvii 36. His Sone, ȝour Saluiour, scheild in necessitie a1586 Kamington in Maitland Geneal. Setoun 47.
Scotland … loist their king, thair buckler and thair sheild(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 357.
That worthi man That for thame wes ay scheld & spere a1500 Prestis of Peblis 128.
Welcome bischopis … To me ȝe ar baith helme speire & scheld 1567 G. Ball. 124.
Thow sall … be my scheild and speir 1570 Sat. P. xiv 32.
He was my targe, my speir, and scheildb. 1490 Irland Mir. I 149/9.
The hie diuinite, the harnes and scheild that He faught with and ourecome the innemy, that was oure nature and humanite, He tuk of this haly lady 1494 Loutfut MS 26a.
A stan in hir neb … quhilk … is scheld for keping of hir body c1520-c1535 Nisbet Eph. vi 16.
Tak ye the scheeld of faith in quhilk ye may slokin al the fyrie dartis of the warlde 1548 Balnaves in Knox III 16.
Faith … is the onely shield which his dartes may not pearse 1567 G. Ball. 107.
His trew promeis is thy scheild a1585 Maitl. Q. 206/160.
Thy best clething salbe the scheild of deith 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 74.
Rendir the fortresse and his suirest scheild

3. In heraldry: A shield on which a coat of arms is represented; an escutcheon. ?1438 Alex. i 1045.
Sa that nouther scheld nor blassone Auaillit him of ane buttoune 1451 Acts II 40/1.
The croune of France hauand a crownit flowre delice on ilk syde of the scheild c1450-2 Howlat 582.
I … Referris me to harraldis to tell ȝow the hale Of other scheldis so schene 1456 Hay II 21/3.
Kingis suld have under thame dukkis … and barouns and, under the barouns, knychtis of a schelde 1494 Loutfut MS 44b.
At thai put furth baneris blason or house of scheild c1515 Asl. MS I 189/3.
The armes of Scotland … remanys ȝit ane red rampand lyoun in a scheld of gold 1509 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 275.
The thortword straik and dracht of the samyn colour as the drachtis of the scheilde is of 1549 Compl. 148/2.
The armys that ȝe bair in ȝour scheildis [etc.] Ib. 152/24. a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 24.
In ane quarter of thair sheild 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 239.
The proper armes of both [families] wer … given simple in one scheild

4. A representation of a shield, in sense 1 or 3 above, made by engraving, embroidery, etc. 1505 Prot. Bk. J. Young 348.
[David's seal contained a] scheld [with a circle in the middle thereof] 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 134.
Ane fals ruif … maid in broderie with greit treis, personages and scheildis and branches of holine 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 397.
[On a coin] the lyoun within the scheild with ane clois croun abone the scheild 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 1b.
For … puttin in … a sheld into the ansent 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 126.
Leg dollours, haveing the impression of a man in armes with one leg and a sheild containing a coat of armes covering the other leg 1683 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 205.
That the Scotts armes shall have the first place in the shield

b. ? A piece of cloth cut to the shape of a shield, and worn as part of a masquer's costume. 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 237.
Sex maskenis … Tuentie foure scheildis of claith of gold for bak and foir [etc.]

5. A privy.In some instances, possessing a vent to the outside wall which could be at least partially closed, and opened for cleaning out the contents. c1420 Wynt. iii 60 (W).
Slane thai fand Thare king apoun the scheild sittand 1500 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 113.
The chelde being in the said Walteris sellar to haue na passagis vthout his hovs and to be clengit wythtin him self 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 82.
We ordand Jhone Jonsone scheild to be set within hymeselff and the fyltht to pas throw hymeself and nocht throu Jok Scot 1531 Bell. Boece II 488.
Sindry Inglismen … clam up throw ane scheild 1535 Stewart 40458.
This fals tratour wnder the schield wes set, Quhilk … With ane lang speit … Amang the bowellis vpwart … Straik him to deid 1547 Edinb. Hammermen 172b.
For the chlenging [sic] of ane scheild in the hows of Nedryis Wind ij s. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 65.
Quhen he passit to the scheild to purge his wame 1566 Edinb. B. Rec. III 222.
That all personis that hes scheildis clenge the samin or euer thai be full sua that thai brek nocht furth and rin in the streit … and … gif ony personis happynnis to oppin thair closattis in ane greit weit sua that thair scheildis ryn alangis the streit the tenement salbe poindit for [etc.] Ib.
Quhen ony scheildis is clengit that the clenger carie the samin honestlie and quietlie in the nycht 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 192.
That the said George … jois in all tymes cuming the aisiament of the said scheild quhilk is biggit in the said gavill … and … George … to keip skaithles the said James … of the passage and conduct of the said scheild 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Latrina, a scheild 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 259.
[Regulations anent] middingis, scheildes [etc.]

b. Dry schele, the pan of a close-stool. = Dry schele n. 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 320.
In the twa chalmeris abone the hall, in everie ane of thame twa stand beddis, with thair dry schelis and stulis thairin 1590–1 Crail B. Ct. MS 2 March.
Ten schillingis for the pryce off twa dry sheillis coft and ressaweit be the said Allan

6. A metal shield or plate over a keyhole. 1590 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 402.
Ane new chak plate lock with thre keyis thairto … with ane scheild & ane boit to the samin 1611 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 332.
Ane key and ane sheild to William Ingles chalmer 1622 Ib. II 149.
For tua lokis to the … press with scheillis and rings thairto 1626 Ib. 188.
For ane new buttane lock with scheill and ring to the constabillis cabinet doore Ib. 190.
For ane new hand with scheild, sneck and sneckheid and keiper … for the constabillis chalmer doore 1649 Caldwell P. 103.
For ane lock and sheild to the new chalmer dore … £3 2 s.

b. ? A protective plate. Cf. S(c)hell n. 14, which may properly belong here. 1600 Crail B. Ct. MS 16 Oct.
Fiwe schellis of pomp wombellis 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 71.
For ix scoir gryit quhyt headed naillis with thair roissis and scheildis at 8 s. the peice for the foiryet of Falkland 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 6.
For 24 berrels 2 li. 4 s., … for mapet neles 4 s., … for sheles to the overlap 6 s.

7. The thick, tough skin on the sides and flanks of the boar; ‘an article of food … made by placing a piece of this skin round the inside of a cylindrical mould and filling up with meat, and cooking until soft and tender' (OED). c1500 Fyve Bestes 284.
It was ane blyth sicht of this baire … His scheldis ware richt sad and sure 1533 Household Bks. Jas. V (App.) 41.
ij perdices, j scheild apri