A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1456-1696
[0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
Candil(l, Candel(l, n. Also: candyll, candle, canell, kandill. [ME. candil, candel, OE. candel, condel, L. candēla.]
1. A candle. Also fig. (the sun). a1400 Legends of the Saints Prol. 109.
In to the nycht as candil clere a1400 Ib. xlix. 86.
Slete & snaw … slokit that fyr … As men a candel suld haf done 1456 Hay I. 6/14.
As dois a grete torch [schyne] be a small litill candill c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 4.
Wp sprang the goldyn candill matutyne 1502 Treasurer's Accounts II. 77.
On Candilmes day, to the kingis offerand in his candill 1549 Ann. Banff I. 24.
The candillis to be maid conforme to the price of the taucht 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 202.
Efter his cumyng to the kirk to offer the said candill to Sanct Gelis lycht 1555 Ib. 354.
To beir the candillis about the funt a1568 Bannatyne MS 260 b/26.
Blawand ane kandill be art magicane c1568 Lauder Minor P. v. 3.
The butterflie … to flie … dois nocht stint Unto the candle 1638 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 395.
To vnlaw … thais inhabitantis … wha did not put out candillis and bowattis the tyme of the lait assemblie
2. Without article, collectively or as a substance.Also made, Pask, talloun or tauch, wax candil. a1500 Henr. Fab. 202 (A).
Withoutin fyre or candill birnand bricht c1515 Asloan MS I. 220/23.
Bischope James Kennedy cursit solempnitlie with myter & staf, buke & candill 1497 Treasurer's Accounts I. 344.
jc candil 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 118.
That thai make thair candill of guid and sufficient stufe bayth weik and talloun 1517 Ib. 171.
That nane … send any lads … vpoun the hie gaitt with ony candill to rowpe or to sell c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 100.
That I may haue collatioun With fyre and candil in the place 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 274.
For candill and turches at the rowping of the commone gude 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3309.
Blenks of candill … Maist like fireflauchts 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 12.
For colis, candil, napre, and veschel 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 467.
For kaill, candle, and knocked beir, … He never payis ane penny 1612–3 Misc. Spald. C. V. 91.
For candill to the consell hous 1667 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 241.
For scooll exactions, such as candle, bent-siluer, or any wther due
3. Attrib. or comb. with beirar, brod, buist, creill, fat, hous, licht, lowe, weke. 1610 Kynlos Abbey p. xi.
4 brase wall candell beiraris — 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 293.
For grathing of … the twa candill broddis — 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 540.
Ane candill bwist — 1627 Edinburgh Testaments LIV. 55 b.
Ane candill creill 1696 Foulis Acc. Bk. 197.
For 2 fish and 2 candle creiles — 1647 Edinburgh Testaments LXIII. 114.
Candle fatts, weiks, and vther warklumes — 1649 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 181.
The supplicatioune … for removing of the candilhoussis — 1513 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 142.
That na vagand persoun be fundin on the gaitt after ix houris at ewin bot gif it be … with candill licht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2238.
They … eait that meit with candell lycht — 1585 James VI Ess. 11.
Can candill lowe giue fyre a greater heit? — 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 174.
Five payr of riffyne schetis … for candilweikkis 1530 Balmerino and L. Chart. ii. 30.
For candellwekis agan ȝoill 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 172.
Ony uther gudis … , sik as bukis, cordis, candillwakis [etc.]
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Candil n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Jul 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/candill>
