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.
HEMMEL, n.1, v. Also hemel, hemmil; hammel; hommle. [′hɛməl, ′hɑməl]
I. n. 1. A shed and an open court communicating with it, used for housing cattle (Bwk. 1825 Jam., hammel; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., hem(m)el, Rxb. 1957). Also attrib. Common in n.Eng. dials.Bwk. 1809 J. Kerr Agric. Bwk. 503:
A set of farm buildings is called a stead, or steading; the straw yard is the courtin; and sheds are named hemmels.Sc. 1812 J. Sinclair Husbandry Scot. i. 365:
By the hammel system, the weak and the strong may be separated.Fif. 1931 per D. Russell:
At Hatton farm near Largo, there was a double row of cattle boxes or pens, five on each side with a passage between. These were always called the hemmils. There were two cattle in each hemmil.
2. A square rack erected on posts in a cattle court to hold fodder (Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam., hemmel, hammel; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., hemel, hammel, Rxb. 1957).Rxb. 1917 Jedburgh Gazette (18 May):
Drag Chain, 4 Feering Poles, 5 Hemels.
II. v. “To surround any beast in order to lay hold of it” (Ags. 1808 Jam., hemmil); to shut up a broody hen (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., hommle).
[Appar. a met. form of Helm, q.v. in the gen. sense of a covering. Cf. Norw. dial. hjelm, the straw-covering of a rick, a slatted roof. The form helm is found in n.Eng. dial. = a cattle shelter.]
