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: 1760-1835, 1887-1902
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KNULE, n. Also (k)nool, knoul, knull, nu(i)le, neull, (k)nill; (k)nell. A lump, knob, excrescence, swelling (Ayr. 1880 Jam.), specif. one of the small loose horns on the head of certain cattle (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 366; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., nuil, nule); a sheep with short, stumpy horns (Watson). Also attrib. Hence n(e)ulled, nuiled, stunted, shrivelled, specif. of cattle: having very short or stumpy horns (Ayr., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). [(k)nul, (k)nʌl, (k)nɪl]Ayr. 1825 Jam.:
Ill-willy kye suld hae neull horns.Per. 1902 E.D.D.:
An excrescence on a tree or piece of wood caused by an insect is known here as a knule.
Combs.: 1. knule-kneed, noole-, having swollen or enlarged knee-joints (Cld. 1880 Jam.); knock-kneed (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Lnk. 1822 G. R. Kinloch MS., knull-, nuile-; Slk. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1954 Hawick News (18 June) 7, nell-; Ayr. 1960); 2. knule knees, nool-, swollen knee-joints, knobbly knees (Ayr. 1841 J. Paton Songs 21; Cld. 1880 Jam.).1. Sc. 1760 Caled. Mercury (6 Sept.):
A small bodied lad, knull knee'd, about five feet four inches high.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 199:
Till knool-kneed C-rn-e grew as wud, As ony bear.Per. 1835 J. Monteath Dunblane Trad. (1887) 59:
He was mounted on a pair of disproportionately-long “knull-kneed” limbs.Lnk. 1887 A. Wardrop Mid-Cauther Fair 187:
That haverin', slaverin', nill-kneed, wee auld-farrant-lookin body.
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"Knule n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/knule>
