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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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Scail, Scale, v. Also: scaile, scayle, scaill, scayll-, skail(e, skaill, skayl(e, skayll, skale, scall, skall, skell, skeil-, skeill-, skeal-, skael; schaill. P.t. also schalit. P.p. also skelt; skail(l; schalit, schalyte. [ME and e.m.E. scail, skail (v.r. a1375 shail) (north., all Cursor M.), skayle (Caxton's Trevisa), scayl (also scail) (St. P. Henry VIII V 215 n. and IV 510 n. referring to or quoting Scots), skaile (a1600, Floddan F.), scale (north., 1641), EIr. scáilim, Ir. sgaoilim, Gael. sgaoil. Cf. ON skilja to separate, divide.The Eng. evidence strongly suggests that the word spread from north to south, perhaps a borrowing from EIr. into Sc. thence into northern Eng. Cf. Slanis n.]

1. tr. To scatter (things, or the parts or constituents of a person or thing) abroad or in different places; to disperse by separating and scattering. Also fig.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 378.
Here slane has bene mony men, Of quham the hedis in placis sere Ar scalyt Ib. xxiv 534.
Thar gert thai bryng in gret quantyte Gold & siluire & skalyt be Ib. xxxvi 573.
Thai blissit banis … Thai … brynt in-to powdre smal, & skalit thaim in-[to] the wynd Ib. xl 206.
In Goddis ȝard … he saw sawyne il seide … & gyf it gadderit wes il He skalit it ore it suld spil 1456 Hay I 123/9.
Gif the vassallis be nocht with thair lord, thai ar agaynis him and scailis his gudis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1404.
Thy hurde to hid, to skaill I tuke na cure a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. 213/74.
Sic dust that scalis sic fillokis with fuk salis Within this land wes never harde nor sene 1550–1 Ayr B. Acc. 113.
[The hire of horses to carry wrack, … and to the men] that skalit it one the hillis 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 695.
And skaillit and sparpallit the meill … in the said burne 1595 R. Brown Paisley I 170.
The said John haifing caused put some fulyie furth of his barne, and had scailled the same togidder besyd his said barne 1610–11 Ayr Common Good Acc.
To Laurence Porter to skaill the townis red vpoun the hillis(2) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 14.
Haill, beyme to skaill of ded the dirk vmbrakill 1596 Dalr. II 453/7.
Lyk a certane sone, new risen to skail and skattir the cloudis of al tumulte a1605 Montg. Sonn. xiii 3.
Bright Apollo … Quhais glorious glance ȝit stoutly skaillis the sk[yis]fig. ?1438 Alex. i 1422.
And fellon deid and word all way He preissit to scaill and put away c1420 Wynt. viii 2443.
Quha skaylis his thoucht in syndrynes, In ilk thyng it is the les 1533 Boece 181.
Terroure and fere scalit the curage of mony c1590 Fowler I 275/2.
That all my ioyes ar skaild 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 37/6.
Although … the brightnesse of the gospell at His cumming scaled the cloudes of all these grosse errors in the Gentilisme, yet [etc.] 1638 Henderson Serm. 159.
Happy are they … who … gives not their sins leave to fill the cup, but are daily skailing some of them by repentance

b. specif. To scail (one's) hous (houshald), to dispose of one's dwelling, furnishings and belongings, sometimes by selling them (see also Scailing vbl. n. 1 a (2). Also to scail hous and, fig., to scail (one's) nest.(1) 1497 Aberd. B. Rec. I 425.
All licht weman … to decist fra … venerie, and al thair buthis and houssis skalit c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 551.
Men & wemen hes skalit thair hale houshald 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 516.
Diverse … proffitabill landis are laid waist, and mony honest houshalderis constrenit to skaill thair houssis 1576 Orkney Oppress. 61.
Twa women for povertie scalit thair housses 1580–1 Reg. Privy C. III 361.
Mony honnest houshalders hes bene compellit to skaill thair houssis and beg thair meit in the cuntrie 1588 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) App. 195.
He … schew the dischairge quhilk he had obtenit … or utherwayis the hous wald have bene skaillit 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 501.
Tennentis … have bene forceit to skaill thair housis and ar put to beg thair meate(2) 1559 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 358.
That we scalit house thair 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 297.
My harlot-mother and my sweet Father … are going to skail and give up house Ib. (1664) i clxxxii 352.(3) 1581 Sat. P. xliv 328.
Judas sall juge ȝou, and God sall scale ȝour nest a1651 Calderwood III 647.
Some of the counsell said they sould skaile their nest

2. To spread (rumour, news, fame, etc.) far and wide. 1375 Barb. v 447 (C) (see also 13 below).
Bot the tithandis var scalit sone, Of the deid Douglas had done Ib. xv 554 (E).
His renoune sa scalit was Throw-out the marchis of Ingland c1475 Wall. xi 1300.
Throuch braid Bretane the woice tharoff was scalyt [: alyt (= ailed)] 1513 Doug. iv v 32.
Thys ilke wensch … this rumour gan throu the pepill skaill [: taill] Ib. 42.
Thys menskles goddes … Skalys thir newis est, west, north and sowth Ib. xii v 15.

3. To cause or allow (heat or poison) to spread throughout the human body; to cause (air) to disperse. 1456 Hay II 125/13.
Plesancis and displesancis … that drawis the hete fra the stomak and scailis it our all the body 1531 Bell. Boece II 62.
Quhen Ambrose be unhappy sleip had skaillit the vennom throw the vanis of his body, he … deceissit c1590 Fowler II 33/31.
A smal prick of a preine may scail the wind in blawin bleddars 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 159/417.
The saifrounid gulsoch … doth his kendlid uennum skaile throuchout the corps

4. To pour out, spill (liquid); to shed tears. Cf. Ourscailit p.p. b. To scale … blude, to shed blood; to kill. 1513 Doug. iv iii 59.
I sal apon thame a myrk schour down skaill [Sm. schaill; L. infundam] a1568 Bellenden Bann. MS 1a/8.
Quhen donc Awrora … Hir siluer teiris skalit on the schowris 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
Scho anserit leist that it [sc. water] being skaillit, aither beist or bodye suld go ower it and so gett ill by it 1623 Crim. Trials II 537.
In the going scho skaillit swm [water]b. 1456 Hay II 102/2.
Thai suld be of grete drede to scayle and sched mannis blude oure reklesly 1513 Doug. viii iii 24.
Besyde the altar blude sched and scalit new, Beand lew warm 1549 Compl. 27/16.
Them that settis ther felicite to skattir & to skail blude 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1036.
Bothe the nations noblest blood For others quarrels skeald [: seal'd] 1644 Chron. Perth 40.
Great blude skeild on both sydes

c. To allow (water) to flow away. 1591 Old Dundee I 169.
In case it [sc. the mill dam] be insufficient and skell water 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 260.
Thair names who refussit to concur with me and skaillet my watter

d. fig. To confer; to use wastefully. 1619 Sel. Biog. I 104.
Albeit thou scailes them [supra the gifts of heaven and earth] upon us who are not able to receave them 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 243.
I have skailed more of Christ's grace … than I have brought with me

e. To use (ink) unprofitably, to waste (one's efforts as a writer). 1661 Red Bk. Grandtully II 167.
Sinc … the prophets, and all quho wrote since hau scal't ther ink … I leiv the dispensing off thes precepts to tyme

5. To spread out, distend, slacken. 1513 Doug. viii xii 83 (Sm.).
Cleopatra … mycht thou se Wynd saill about … Scaland [C. Sclakand] schetis and haldand rowme at large

b. To let (one's hair) hang loose, in a dishevelled manner. 1513 Doug. i vii 109.
The Troian madynnys quhite, With hair doun skalit, all sorofull gan pas Ib. iv ix 74.
The religyus nun with hair down skaill [Ruddim. skail] 1533 Boece 130.
Religious wemen quhilk in the tempill made seruice … with haris skalit out of plett

6. To send off, or draw off, (soldiers) in different directions, also to a place; to disperse for tactical reasons. a1400 Leg. S. xxix 207.
He … skalyt his men here & thare, … Til he belewit al hyme ane c1420 Wynt. iv 525.
Hyr ost scho scalyd here and thaire, Lyk as scho affrayid ware 1460 Hay Alex. 452.
Ryd sarralie, skaill nocht thi men oure wyde 1533 Bell. Livy I 57/23.
To skail thame in sindry partis he began to fle, traisting ilkane of thame be this way ay to follow on him 1549–50 Treas. Acc. IX 376.
xxij carage hors send to the campe eftir the Scottis men war scalit to the Franche campe witht victuellis iiij li. viij s.

b. reflex. Only in Barb.: To break ranks; to go off in different directions. 1375 Barb. xii 467.
Ȝe sall se alsone that thai … sall brek aray And scaile [C. scale] thaim our harnays to ta Ib. xiii 73.
That thai thaim scalyt euerilkane Ib. 275.
That thai scalyt thaim in troplys ser And till discomfitur war ner

7. a. To disband (an army or fighting force). 1528 Buccleuch Mun. II 152.
Reddy to obey the massouris … to fulfill the kingis command … and to remove hame and skale his folkis or byd with his grace at his plesure 1531 Bell. Boece II 233.
Gif Malcolme wald skaile his army … he wald heir peace 1535 Stewart 36202.
[They] Skaillit the oist and hamewart all is gone 1541 St. P. Henry VIII V 199.
We ar contentit that baith the armyis in all partis be skalit 1542 Craven Ch. in Orkney III 166.
Anent the deliwing of the presoneris … the armyis being skalit, your grace suld send thame … ransoun free 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 15.
Ye haif begylit thaim and causit thaim to skayll thair fokkis 1560 in Calderwood II 2.
The armie and navie of Englishmen and Scotishmen sall be skailled both by sea and land 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 137.
The saidis lordis … skaillit thair folkis and depairtit a1578 Pitsc. I 139/16.
King James … obeyit the charg and skaillit his airme 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 571.
Chargeing ayther party to skaill thair forces and freindis c1610 Melville Mem. 25.

b. To break up (a meeting, assemblage, or gathering of any sort) freq. by dismissal. c1420 Wynt. ix 1508.
Bot ay tha qwyte yow lill for lall Or that thai skale thare [Maitl. F. 126/52 ȝe skaill the] markat all c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 215.
We sall gar scale our sculis all thé to scorne 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 379.
To Archibald Lavingston to pas to the Castell of Levingstoun to skaill ane gadering 1531 Bell. Boece I 36.
Als sone as this conventioun was skalit Id. Livy II 118/22. 1535 Stewart 18520.
Thai … decreittit … To skaill the court, and ilk man hame is past 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 5.
In the henderend of the convenshyon, as tha war skalit, ther cam ane ship from France 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 59.
Minassing ane officiar of armes with maist contumelius wordis and bodely harme. … At the occasioun of the quhilk tumult the court was scalit and the electioun of officers left of 1569–70 Edinb. B. Rec. III 268.
Vnderstanding the lordis to remove and skaill the sessioun 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 173.
Quhill the said convocatioun be scaillit 1596 Dalr. I 292/3.
The king schortlie skaylet this assemblie 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
Gif they refuse to skaill their gadderinges and convocation he may stay or continue the court 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II 174.
Gif the said schooll be dissolvit and skaillit, it will tend to the preiudice of the youth of this town 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 55.
II 174. The first preiching day at his awin parochin kirk so to stand fra aucht houris in the morneing till the people be sk[e]lt 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 169/524.
The suoning uann & skunnering euill that skaillis conuentionis thikke 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 120.
After the kirk was scailed 1671 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 395.
They … break up and skailled the fair c1700 Pennecuik Poems 385.
When kirk was skael'd and preaching done

c. To break up or disperse (one's family). Cf. 1 b above. 1567 Acts III 45/1.
Quhairthrow honest ho[gap in MS] … and famileis ar skalit and put to begartie 1570 Crim. Trials I ii 13.
And thairthrow causit the said Patrik to skaill his house and familie thairof 1661 W. Thomson The Churches Comfort: Sermon Preached in the Old Church of Edinburgh (1706) 18.
Would he … put away his wife … and skail his family again?

d. ? To cast off (one's friends). 1568 Breadalbane Lett. 1 Nov.
Ȝe desyre me to stay or scale my freindis … Gif ȝe will assure me that my lord … will stand my gud freind … I will stay my freindis … in all tymes cumyng

e. To dismiss (a person or persons) from a place or employment. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 398.
I sall degrade thé, … Scaile thé for scorne and shere thé of the scule 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 162.
Sabbato ii^o Januarii certane masounis skalit

8. To cause (a body of armed men) to scatter or withdraw in disorder by (chiefly) force or other means; to put to flight; to rout. Also, once, with the place attacked as object. Also fig.(1) 1375 Barb. ii 397.
Thar small folk … fled all skalyt her and thar Ib. vi 430.
Dowglas … full egrely Assaylyt & scalyt thaim hastyly Ib. vii 301.
Fortoun ws trawaillyt fast today That scalyt ws sa sodanly Ib. xiii 84.
Fra thar fayis archeris war Scalyt … Swa that thai dred nocht thar schoting ?1438 Alex. i 1926.
Thair best battellis are Skaillit and broken heir and thair. The laif ar nocht to dreid greatly Ib. ii 9153.
The pepill he scalit and all to-frushit, For thay war pure, small mardale c1420 Wynt. ii 1439.
Swa was skallyd all that rowt That off the lawe wes had na dowt Ib. vii 1396.
The kyng … Swne skalyd all that cumpany 1460 Hay Alex. 6128.
Quhare thai with stanis and gynis … Micht skaill his oist and tak na skaith agane 15.. Clar. v 1195.
He … on them ruschit … And skaillit them full wyde before his face 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6178.
The morne sall I with my wark and cunning Skaill all ȝone hoist 1597 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 134.
[He came furiously upon them, he] brak [their drums and] scailit [their footmen](b) ?1438 Alex. ii 1277.
As tempest that garris woddis fall, He schalit and thirllit the mekill stour(2) 1585 Misc. Bann. C. I 136.
The lords marched towards the towne, with purpose to scale the samefig. 1654-6 Gray Gospel-Call 4.
One sight of Jesus Christ would even skail the school of them

b. To disperse (a fleet). a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 603.
A gret wynd rase, & to the trybune contrare was, & scalit his nawine to & fra

c. To drive away (insects). 1531 Bell. Boece II 272.
Thir fleis … war all full of hir blud … and gif thay war skalit utheris … suld … souk out the residew of hir blude

9. To scail the (one's, etc.) sege (assege). a. To force a siege to be raised by scattering the besiegers. b. To raise a siege by dispersing or withdrawing the investing force.a. ?1438 Alex. i 185.
Duke Betys … Richt towart Tyre the way hes caucht To skaill the sege of that citie c1420 Wynt. viii 3854.
Wyth that herschype swa he thowcht … That that assege suld skalyd be 1513 Doug. x i 58.
Quhidder gif that thou list suffir neuermar Thar sege scalit nor thame fre of dangar? 1517–18 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 118.
And my said lord regent … purpos … to scaile the said sege 1533 Boece 26.
How Archibald Dowglas … devissit skall the asseig of Berwik 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 194.
To the end they mycht skaile the seige about Edinburgh 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 60.
To Glasgow past … , Thair skalit the sege, releuit the castell soneb. 1533 Bell. Livy I 147/5.
How Caius Mucius … causit Porsena to scale his sege Ib. II 66/11. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 12.
The … saige was skalit a1578 Pitsc. I 155/21.
The Inglischmen … skaillit thair seige Ib. II 86/21.
The governour behovit to skaill the seige and reteir and skaill his airmie 1596 Dalr. II 42/23.
[The queen] persuades him [sc. James I] to skail and rais the seige and hame to returne

10. To remove or take away (a responsibility); to annul (a proclamation); to change (a decision). 1533 Bell. Livy I 85/9.
All hie chargis suld be scalit & repute of na effect c1575 Balfour Pract. 345.
To proceid aganis ony persoun that aucht to keip the proclamatioun, the samin standand undischargit or skaillit a1578 Pitsc. II 44/12.
He skaillit [I. stableid] his mynd and held out his porpois in France to haue his pensieoun

b. To frustrate (an enterprise). a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 104.
For the men of Leyth came furth, and scaillit that interpryse

11. passive. (To be) skail(l)it, (to be) in a dispersed or scattered condition. With and without adv. compl.There is some ambiguity with passive uses of 7 and 8 above.

a. Of people or animals. b. Of things.a. (1) 1375 Barb. vii 321.
Thai ly scalyt as thaim lest Ib. ix 429 (C).
Thair fayis, that in beddis war, Or scalit, fleand heir and thair Ib. xvii 118 (E).
Bot thai war scalyt that thai mocht On na maner assemblyt be a1400 Leg. S. xxix 91.
Thai [sc. the deer] war red & skalyt wyd ?1438 Alex. i 1629.
Quhan Emynedus … Saw how [his] fers … War skalit with thair shot of far [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii 3488.
Bot skalyd swa that tyme war thai, That thai togyddyr ware noucht then Owt owre aucht hwndyr Ib. 6785.
The Franche men that thaim scalyt saw Ruschit on thaim 1494 Loutfut MS 49b.
Thair innemeis ar dispersit & skalit Ib. 129b.
And the part of the front of the batell that is scalit and nocht evinly wil be soner sloppit be thair inemys & deuidit & vencust 1533 Boece 311b.
Sanct Colm … reduceit monkis and religious that war skalit and vagabund Ib. 335b.
Quhen Pichtis war skalit he dissoluit his armye 1541 St. P. Henry VIII V 199.
Item, we ar contentit that baith the armyis in all partis be skalit 1566 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 69.
That nayne hukstar by nayne [sc. meal] in the mercat quhill the toun be scali [? for scalit] 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 212.
Till Adam of Gordonis cumpany were scalet [Trans. 303 -eth] furth of Abirdeine (wha wer thair for the tyme) 1595 Colville Lett. 173.
The great numbers convenit at Edinburgh ar skaled(b) 1456 Hay II 110/22.
And thus had … all thy company [been] destroyit and scailit 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV i 126.
Seeing that our forces ar skaillit, thai intend to put to execution thair pretendit processes 1558-66 Knox I 370.
Sche had gottin assured knowlege that our cumpany was skailled 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 105b.
The scheipe to abyde equallie betuix the haill bairnes vndiuydit or skaillit to the hous 1596 Dalr. II 288/28.
Than skailit ar the Scotis host 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 251.
The infrequencie of the session, who for the most part wer skailed(c) a1400 Leg. S. vii 238.
Al the Jowis … In-to the kynrike of Juda Vare wyd schalit to & fra Ib. 807.
The Jowys that ware schalyte wyde, Assemblyt(2) 1375 Barb. vi 28.
His men fra him sa scalit war To purches thar necessite Ib. viii 326.
Thai that the formast war War skalyt in soppys her & thar Ib. xv 480. a1400 Leg. S. i 67.
Qwhene the appostolis scalyt ware In the warld oure all wyd-quhare Ib. xl 914.
He saw thame fle but areste, Vnknyt scalit in the foreste ?1438 Alex. i 1974.
Emynedoun … saw how his feris war Scalit and soupit heir and thair 1460 Hay Alex. 18604.
Now will thy scheip be skaillit in the feild 1513 Doug. vi xi 58.
The bissy beys … On diuers colorit flouris skalit wide 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 134.
[They] set on the Romanis, quhilkis wer that tyme skalit throw the countre a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 17.
Many of the earl's friends being scaled off the townb. a1400 Leg. S. l 891.
Ane angell … thai quhelis in pecis small Brak, & scaillit was oure-all c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1732.
The schippes that scaled wor Draif in one heipe c1420 Wynt. i 416 (W).
Be that Noe … vnderstude That oure all scalit wes the flude ?a1450 Florimond 329.
The schippis war scaillit throw tempest 1456 Hay II 140/33.
Claret wyne … is … clere, but the moder scailde [F. toute la lye soit au fons du vaissel] c1475 Wall. v 282.
The chas was gret, scalyt our breid and lenth 1513 Doug. xiii i 14.
Lyke as the huge forest can bewaill Hys granys doun bet and his branchis skaill 1533 Boece 69.
To the castel of Calidone wod … was the slauchter and chais skalit

12. intr. To separate, one from another; to disperse or scatter; to break up, disband. With pl. or coll. subject. With and without adv. compl. Also proverb.(1) 1375 Barb. vi 577.
He bad his men … Scaile and ilkan hald his way All him selff Ib. xvii 99.
And the remanand suld all hale Skaill throw the toun ?1438 Alex. ii 4338.
The folk of Ind … scallit in troppellis heir and thair c1420 Wynt. viii 6322 (W).
Bot a gret storme sa gert thaim [sc. ships] scaill That thai were drevin haill away 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 175.
Ordanis all … liegis quhilkis war chargit of befor for to keip the said diett … scaile and pas hame 1531 Bell. Boece I 150.
[They] sall … skaill als fast sindry … as thay assemblit togidder 1533 Boece 467b.
Thame quhilk war bot gaderingis and daly disseuerit and skalit 1535 Stewart 56827.
To caus his men to sched and skaill in twyn 1568 Reg. Morton I 34.
And quhen we skall … thay will tak our freindis geir or thay want 1570 Sat. P. xvii 123.
As ship but ruther sa ga we now but gyde: We skail, we scatter, we wait not quhair we go 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 47.
The erle of Schrewisbarie [etc.] … come with xv^m men … quhais cuming causit the Scottis and Frenche skaill 1603 Moysie 75.
They skayled ane and ane and past away c1610 Melville Mem. 202.
He … allegit that the ennemys wer skailen and fleing away behind the litle vilage 1642 Baillie II 20.
For which effect your lesson must be hastened before the schollars begin to skaill(2) c1420 Wynt. vii 2571.
The assege than scalyd swne [W. Thai … scalit all that segis sone] 1494 Loutfut MS 132a.
In passing of wattiris … the ost mon synd & scaill out of aray 1498 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 75.
That all scuillis scail and nane to be haldin 1531 Bell. Boece II 478.
The Perse … sufferit his army to skaill to thair loginnis for the nicht 1541 Sc. Hist. Rev. VI 156.
I traist the army sall skaill for this wynter 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 23.
That the futt band suld skaill incontinent 1561 Inverness Rec. I 65.
Quhilkis personis … throw their inobedience constreinȝeit the prowest and cunsall to skaill and depart 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 346.
The same day, the conventioun skalit a1578 Pitsc. II 150 h. of ch.
Hou the congregatioun scailled 1588 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) App. 195.
The colleges skaillis ane monethe for necessitie 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 247.
Ane fellon tryne come at his taill Fast flichtren through the skise Bot suddenly that skull did skaill 1600-1610 Melvill 17.
Skalled 1618 Crim. Trials III 451.
As the people war dissolueing and skailling fra the sermone 1624 Perth Kirk S. MS 4 Oct.
Befoir the counsell skeillit frome chusing of the magistratis c1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 522.
Let the north [communion] table and north syde of the middle table skaill that thes tables may be furnisching againe … quhill [etc.] 1655 Dumfries Kirk S. 22 Feb.
Fund drunk when the efternoone sermone skaillitproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 205.
Breads house skaild never

Passing into: b. To depart; to go away from one's fellow(s); to leave the main body of an army or herd. 1375 Barb. xix 814.
Hame wele cummyn ar thai & scalyt syne ilk man thar way c1500 Harl. MS 4700 259b.
That na persoun of the oist in Ingland sall scail or pas othir to forray or speking withoutin … bidding of the chiftane 1522–3 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 67.
Wolle Craw [saw] … the kow scall forther 1535 Stewart 31611.
Syne scaillit hes and passit hame ilk man a1568 Bann. MS 82b/64.
Tyme is vntrusty and dois skaill from thé away 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 659.
[To forbid any] to skaill or depairt fra the attendence of his majesteis persoun

c. To scail abak, to withdraw, retire. 1535 Stewart 2436.
Rycht softlie than thai skalit bayth abak

13. To spread (far and wide). 1375 Barb. v 447.
Bot tithandis that scalis sone Off this deid … Come to the Cliffurd his ere a1400 Leg. S. xliv 284.
A ful gret fyre he gert mak thare … That scalyt fare the low, & wyd Ib. xlv 167.
Thane the gret lo[w] scalit on heid Ib. xlix 87. c1475 Wall. vii 467.
The stynk scalyt off ded bodyis sa wyde [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 62.
That the vennom micht skail throw all the vanis of his body

14. To scatter, throw away; to disperse. 1456 Hay I 123/8.
And he that gaderis nocht with him scaylis c1475 Wall. xi 528.
The myst scalyt, the son schawyt fayr and brycht 1580 Hume Promine 67.
Quhill all the skyis skaillit violat a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli 7.
Nou skaillis the skyis, The nicht is neir gone

15. To fall in drops; to pour (down); to spill. 1494 Loutfut MS 24a.
The pellican … strikis hir self in the brest with hir neb & garris the blud scaill apon hir birdis 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 22.
Amyd the hawchis … The recent dew begynnys doun to scaill 1587-99 Hume 27/62.
The clouds of raine From tops of mountaines skails

b. To spill contents; to leak. Also proverb. 1669 Holmains Baron Ct. 11 Oct.
Two sufficient sives for each multur … whoso holds these sives and wilfullie skaills by the sive or defrauds the multure in any way is to pay 10 groatsproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 82.
An old seck is ay skailing [MS skelling]

16. ? To come apart. a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi 12.
Gar heis hir [sc. the Fleming bark] quhill hir howbandis skaill