Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1743-1803
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HARL, HARLE, n.2 “The reed or brittle part of the stem of flax separated from the filament” (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 458). Obs. in Eng. since 17th c.Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. 335:
These broken Pieces of Straw hanging in a great measure loose upon the Harle or Flax.Sc. 1756 F. Home Bleaching 320:
The qualities requisite in such a body, were to resist putrefaction, and dissolve the oil betwixt the harl and the bun.Arg. 1798 J. Smith Agric. Arg. 96:
When sufficiently watered, it feels soft to the gripe, and the harle parts easily with the boon or show.Sc. 1803 Trans. Highl. Soc. 10:
It consists chiefly of the reed, with a portion of the coarsest harl of the flax.
Comb.: harte spleet, ? flax which has been separated into strands.Ork. 1747 in P. Ork. A.S. XII. 52:
Two bundles of Harle spleets.
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"Harl n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/harl_n2>
