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 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dale, Dail(l, n.¹ [ME. dale, OE. dæl, pl. dalu, ON. dal-r.] A dale, a valley. Freq. in dale and doun.Early examples in place-names are Teviettedale (c 1100), Drivesdale (1116), Teuidall (c 1154), Tvededale (1159), Lawederdale (c 1200), etc.(a) 1375 Barb. xix. 317 (E).
The dale wes strekyt weill, … On athyr sid thair wes ane hicht c1420 Wynt. i. 1082.
Nest lyis the landys off Lydys hale, Tyatyra, be down and dale a1500 Henr. Fab. 1691.
The dalis deip with dubbis drownit is a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 29.
He fand … Bot deip dales … , dovnis and dellis Ib. 126.
Thay drive on the da deir be dalis and doun c1515 Asl. MS. I. 246/26.
Eftir this Rether … conquerit out of Ynglis mennis handis a dale, and callit it Retherisdale 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 68.
The deyr full dern doun in the dalis drew 1533 Boece i. viii. 53 b.
Vtheris of Pichtis blude … held the dale now callit Annandale 1535 Stewart 7193.
Quhill schawis schuik and trimlit all the eird, Dalis dynlit [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 12/3.
Our cuntrey men vses valayes to cal dales(b) c1420 Wynt. i. 1082 (C).
Be doun and dail c1475 Wall. viii. 1190.
Bathe fyrth, forrest, and daill 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 49.
The wild beistis doun to the dail thai dryve Ib. xii. Prol. 114.
Euery flour onlappit in the daill 1535 Stewart 4742.
Ouir doun and daill, ouir mony mos and mure 1549 Compl. 38.
The fresche deu, quhilk … hed maid dikis and dailis verray donc 1570 Sat. P. x. 305.
Throw Ewisdaill, Esdaill and all the daills raid he Ib. xix. 29.
The sauage daillis he dantonit and maid thrall a1585 Maitl. Q. xlviii. 2.
Ȝe bankis of Helicon, Pernassus hillis & daillis ilkon 1587-99 Hume iii. 87.
The hils, and dails, and forest fair a 1627 Craig v. 34.
Throgh sheene shawes, & donk dailes