Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BEFYLE, v. To soil, to defile. [bɪ′fəil]Sc. c.1715 Huntly's Raide in Jacobite Minstrelsy (1829) 85:
For the marquis he befyl'd himsel, The Enzie was na clean, man.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 21:
"An ye tail-toddlers and dyke-lowpers,
Aw that befylt the mairrage vow,
An turnt yer nebs frae ma haliness
Tae fornicate an mow; ... " Fif. 1894 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin, Swatches o' Hodden-Grey xii.:
Though sair befyled he was naething hurt.Rnf. 1901 The Brisk Young Lad in R. Ford Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland vii.:
Ye've fa'en i' the dirt and ye're a' befyled.
