Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
COWDLE, COUDLE, v. To float; to bob up and down on the waves (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.). Ppl.adj. cowdlan', coudlin'.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 73:
... the fowk o Tom na Fuar cairriet the murdered Sassenach doon tae the River Dubh an haived it in, far it cowdled doon tae Loch an Dav tae a pike's bellyrive.Cld. 1820 Marmaiden of Clyde in Edb. Mag. (May) 424:
The cowdlan' bells on the weelan' flude Are the ships whilk we sail in.w.Dmf. a.1909 A. Anderson “Surfaceman's” Later Poems (1912) 214:
Glaur frae very heid to fit wi' rinnin', micht an' main, Efter coudlin' paper boats.
