Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡GINNLE, n.1, v.1 Also ginle, ginnel, ¶gindle, gunnle, -al, ginull. [′gɪnəl, ′gʌn-]
I. n.pl. 1. The gills of a fish (Ayr. 1825 Jam.; w.Sc. 1887 Jam., gunnles; ‡Ayr. 1954).Ayr. 1848 J. Ramsay Woodnotes 43:
They're fish, nae doubt, wi' finer scales. And redder 'bout the ginnels.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 89:
The quyne bedd wi the fush. An she fand oot there'd nivver been sic a hert-sair fush. She sterted tae straik her fingers ower its ringie mou, its ginnles, its tailie; ...
2. Of a person: the cheeks, “great hanging cheeks” (w.Sc. 1887 Jam.; Bnff.4 1927).Ayr. 1834 Galt Lit. Life III. 107:
This invalid being white in the ginulls, and the doctor for colour a perfect peony rose.
II. v. To catch fish by the gills in “tickling” or by the method detailed in third quot., to grope for fish under banks and stones (Lnk., Ayr., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ayr.4 1928; Dmb. 1954), to Guddle.Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick III. ii.:
Ye war' a wee doubtsome whether ye warna . . . a sawmont . . . an' took me aiblins for a blackfisher it was gaun tae ginle the chouks o' ye.Rnf. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 91:
In that whimp'ling burn when the school was out I've seen us gindle baith for parr and trout.Ayr. 1879 J. White Jottings 71:
Ginling . . . consisted in catching the trout with a wand about three feet long with a hair tied at the point, similar to what is used in catching birds. This loop was gently slipped over the body of the fish, and, in a moment, it was safely landed on the bank.
Hence ginler, one who ginnles for fish.Lnk. 1862 D. Wingate Poems 26:
Ginlers there will get their farin' — Deil nor they were a' defunck!
