A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1698
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Skele, Skeil(l, Scail, Skaill, n. Also: skell, skeel, skayll, scal. Also ? erroneous form: skeld. [Appar. a conflation of north. ME and e.m.E. skele (c1330), skeill (1570), skeil (1575-6), skeele (1629), ON skjóla a pail (cf. Scul(l n.1), and ME skele (14th c.), ? aphetic form of OF escuele (F. écuelle) a dish, platter.]
1. A bucket, pail, tub or creel as used in the home or in connection with the owner's trade. Also with defining word, and attrib.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 231 (M).
Fische wyffis cryis ‘fy’ and castis doun squell and skeilis 1574 Edinburgh Testaments III 217b.
Skeillis & coiggis extending to xxiiij s. 1627 Brechin Testaments IV 264.
Ane maskin fat ane rubber tua skeillis 1686 Brechin Testaments VII 162b.
Ane old skeill and ane old cood with iron girthis 1686 Brechin Testaments VII 162b.
Three litle barrellis with ane handed skeill(b) 1561 Inverness Rec. I 58.
The said balye wald had sparpillit the fysche to the pure, nochtwithstanding he wald hade the fysche and skayll quharin tha wer out of the balyes handis 1676 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III 703.
Three lasts of turff, four fathoms of wood, sex skaills of coalls, tuo barrells of butter(c) 1563 Old Dundee I 169.
And ilk ane of them furnish ane servant, with skeel or barrow, and schule or spade … for cleansing of the mill dam(d) 1661 J. Gordon Map of Aberdeen.
Fishers Skells(e) 1694 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 165.
For bakets, scals [etc.](f) 1553 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 248b. (14 Sept.).
Ane of the officieris past to Isobell Auchterlony spous to Alexander Donaldson litstar & offerit to hir the leid & litfat with the skeldis vpon the samyn price as thai war comprysit(2) 1564–5 Old Dundee II 246.
Twa wort skeills, price [8 s.] 1580 Brechin Testaments I 22.
Ane wort skeill and ane wort buket 1583 Perth B. Ct. 26 April.
Fyve of the said twnnyng skaillis ilk twnnyng skaill ane gallown 1583 St. A. Test. II 19b.
Ane watter skeil price ij s. 1586 St. A. Test. II 68.
Ane wesching skeill 1595 Brechin Testaments I 128b.
Twa wasching skeillis 1678 Brechin Testaments VII 24b.
Four washing skeillis worth iiij lib. 1698 Inv. in Atholl Mun. (62 II. 336).
Tuo uashing skeels(3) attrib. 1542 Eeles King's Coll. Chapel 24.
Ane skeill tubb
2. A dish or platter. a1500 Sir Eger 417.
Her maidens brought me forth a scail Of fine main bread and fowls hail
3. Either 1 or 2 above, where the context is unclear. 1502 Acts Lords of Council MS XII 84.
Twa skelis the price ij s 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 177.
vij fattis for fles twyme … iiij skelys [etc.] 1562 Will A. Betoun 225.
vj greit skeilis and four litle skeilis
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"Skele n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/skele>
