Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
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.
Quotation dates: 1755-1947, 2004
[0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1]
HAINGLE, v., n., adj. Also haingal, hingel, hingle, hangil, hangle, hangel; han(g)yel, hanziel, hanyiel, haanyal, han(n)iel, hynail. [heŋl, hɪŋl, hɑɲɪl]
I. v. 1. To go about in a feeble, languid fashion, as during convalescence; to hang about, loiter aimlessly (Sc. 1808 Jam., haingle; Abd., Fif. 1825 Jam., hingle; ‡Ags., Fif. 1956); of time: to pass slowly.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 16:
Whan artless tales, an' sangs uncouth, Shamm'd aff the hinglin hours.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xviii.:
To haingle aboot through the streets o' a big city like Lunnon . . . that is the bluest look-out.Sc.(E) 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms 4:
Till hilch an' haingle thro' some feckless tune till His gree.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 15:
Syne, when he hainglt, like to drap, An' stachert dweebly ower the tap.
2. “To have a jaded appearance from extreme fatigue” (Upp. Lnk. 1825 Jam.).
II. n. 1. An idle loutish fellow, a lazy slovenly good-for-nothing (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. Ib., haniel, hanyel; Cai. 1902 E.D.D., haanyal; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Tyr. 1931 North. Whig (15 Dec.) 10, hingel); also applied to a greedy or lazy dog (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Used attrib. = slovenly, careless.Abd. 1755 R. Forbes Jnl. from London 34:
In came sik a rangel o' gentles an' a lithry o' hanziel slyps at their tail.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 66:
Tam Pucker's sic anither hynail: And vends about diurnal scandal.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck iii.:
Sae little kend the haniel about fencing, that . . . he held up his sword-arm to save his head.Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick I. xiv.:
Ye wilyeart haingle, an' ye gi'e me sic a fright this towmont.
2. A state of boredom or laziness; only in phr. to be in or hae the haingles, to be in a lazy mood (Ags. 1808 Jam.).Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS.:
Somebody tauld her he was some in the hangles after his streen's wark so Mallie was sent out wi' a jug o jessop and sage till him.Abd.15 1940:
Aw'm jist i' the hangils the day, aifter the streen's rackit.Abd. 2004:
Is aafa virus his left me in e hingles, aye wintin tae sit doon.
‡3. In pl. Influenza, “perhaps from hanging so long about those who are afflicted with it, often without positively assuming the form of a disease” (Ags. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' the Ling 49:
When in the haingles' grip In airly Spring.Ags. 1947 Forfar Dispatch (30 Jan.):
I'd haen the haingles owre the New Year ye ken.
III. adj. Lazy, slack, disinclined to work (Mry.1 1925, hanyel).Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 114:
The langer that it's pitten back, We grow so haingal an' so slack — At last we say it disna mak'.Abd. 1923 H. Beaton Benachie 232:
Forehan' payment mak's hangel wark.
