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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ȝowl(e, Ȝoul(e, v. Also: yowle, yowl(l, ȝoull, youl(e, ȝol, yeul, yeaule. [ME and e.m.E. ȝoule (Wyclif), yowle (c1410), ȝowle (Cath. Angl.). Cf. Gowl v. Also in the later dial.] intr.

1. a. Of fiends, wolves or wild beasts, or dogs: To howl. Also fig. a1400 Leg. S. iv 102.
The fendis furth can fare … Ȝouland and cryand in the ayre c1420 Wynt. iv 2122 (W) (see Ȝell v.b). c1500 Crying of Play 34.
My foregrantschir … That dang the devill and gart him ȝowle a1568 Dunb. in Bann. MS 35a/6 marg.
The diuillis trymmillis with hiddous voce [marg. ȝoulis] 1513 Doug. vi xvi 38.
Gret figuris of wolffis … Ȝowland with ȝammering grisly forto her 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1733.
This grewhound … wald … ȝoull and cry as he wald quyte rin wode a1605 Montg. Flyt. 527 (T).
The toun tykis ȝowlis 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xiv 2/29.
The infernall hounds both lik't and youl'dfig. 1600-1610 Melvill 467.
A pleasand thing to me it was to bie Ay present in Assemblies whare God's servands I might sie But now … when profane usurpes the place To byd and yeaule with wicked wolffes I can nocht have a face

b. Of persons: To cry (out) in mourning, pain or distress. Also transf.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 445 (see Ȝell v. 1).
Ȝol 1588 King Cat. 210b.
Ȝe sal crie out for dolour in hart and yowle out for torment in spirit 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 236.
Sche … departit fra hir ȝowling 1633 Johnston Diary I 69.
Then indeed I begoud to youle, mourne, and lament a1651 Calderwood IV 610.
Her maids weeping and yowlling, she willed them to hold their peace(b) 1640 Bk. Pasquils 103.
At euery woley, I did shote, The limers yeuld loudtransf. 1513 Doug. ii viii 84.
The holl howsis ȝowlit and resowndit For womentyng of ladeis and wemen

c. Of a bird, specif. the owl or the dove: To hoot or coo.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 102 (A).
Ay to ȝowt and to ȝowle [B. ȝoull] As ane horrible owle c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 236.
Oule, rare, and ȝowle [M. ȝoule] I sall defowll thy pryd 1513 Doug. iv viii 112.
The nycht owle … was hard ȝowle(2) 1549 Compl. 39/16.
The turtil began for to greit quhen the cuschet ȝoulit

2. Of rocks: To resound or reverberate with an echo. 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 149.
From thence we, passing by the windy gowle, Did make the hollow rocks with echoes yowle