Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

*Hettell, n. [Also in the mod. dial. of Caithness and the Firth of Forth as hettle, hattle: of doubtful origin.] ‘A name given by fishermen to the rough stony sea-bottom some distance from the shore beyond the area covered with seaweed’ (SND, s.v. Hettle n.). — 1676 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 24 July.
That na persone heirefter cast out a ny ballast betwixt the new and old hearbor nor in the hettell foreanent the samen