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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GELL, v.1 Also geal, geel, geil, gale, gail. To tingle, to smart, ache with pain or cold (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1825 Jam., gail, gale, ‡1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh.11, Cai.7 1954, geil). Vbl.n. gealin', geelan, “the smarting of a sore, or of the skin in frosty weather” (Cai. 1940 John o' Groat Jnl. (15 March)). Also in n.Eng. dial. [gɛl, geil, gel]Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 49:
The growlan fish wives hoise their creels, Set a' their banes a-gelling.
Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 172:
I'll wadd the hurdies of ane of them at least gelled for the rest of that nicht.
Cai.1 1928:
Me throt's gealin: A can hardly heauch.

[O.Sc. galing, vbl.n., 1530, gell, as above, a.1600. Of obscure origin, but cf. Gell, adj., adv., n.3]

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