We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HEELD, v., n. Also heild; heel. [hi:ld]

I. v., tr. and intr. 1. To lean to one side, slant, tilt (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; I.Sc. 1956); to overturn, upset. Obs. or dial. in Eng.Ags. 1824 Literary Olio (24 Jan.) 29:
That dings a'; that heels everything; that cowes the wee whittle.
Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 125:
His mither's kirn he heelded first.
Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present 118:
“Canna ye heel't, ye stupid idiot, for gin ye dinna make haste an' heel't ye'll droun't [a child at baptism].” The heeling of a boat is turning it upon its side, to empty it the more speedily of the water.
Sh. 1888 B. R. Anderson Broken Lights 79:
An' when a schooner took da soond Let ance her head be heilded roond.
Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 20. 27:
We'll sit i' da boat, da heeldin boat, wi da water lapperin under da stammerin.

2. To sink (in the sky), to decline. Obs. in Eng. Slk. 1811 Spy (16 March) 231:
An' when the kye croon'd i' the bire, Or Charley-wain began to heel.

II. n. Close of day, evening, when the sun slants in the west; the end of the year (Sh. 1956).Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 38:
I' da heild o' da day a Tiesday, I wis comin' up da gaet kerryin me bits o' tuels.

[O.Sc. held(e), heild, from a.1400, tr. and intr. to tilt, Mid.Eng. heelde, heild, O.E. hieldan, id. Eng. now uses the form heel, mainly of ships.]

14420

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: