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.
HATTEREL, n. Also hatterell, hat(t)rel, hatteral(l), hateral.
1. A confused heap (Fif., Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1956), a jumble, miscellaneous collection; a large number (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.). Also used fig. = a state of confusion, etc. (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1956).Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xxxv.:
He threeps that the body is no his wife's, and ca's it a hateral o' clay and stones.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 75:
Ye'll niver get a crap aff o' that lan': it's naething bit a hatteral o' stanes.Fif. 1866 S. Tytler St Mungo's City II. xxvi.:
The wull is a whole hatterell of mistakes.Bnff. 1880 J. F. S. Gordon Chrons. Keith 270:
At the top of “Begg's Brae” (where formerly there was a “Hattrel” of poor Cots belonging to the Glebe).Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 8:
A perfect hatterall of confusion.
2. A mass of sores or scabs covering any part of the body (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Phr.: to be a' in a hatterel, (1) to be covered with sores (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Uls.3 1930; Bnff. 1956); (2) to be crippled with rheumatism (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
3. A swarm of creeping things, e.g. worms, maggots (Mry. 1925–57); hence applied to meat which is unfit for human consumption (Ib.).
[Hatter + -el.]
