Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1713, 1790-1868
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MOUL, n. Also mool, mule. [mul] A chilblain, esp. a broken one on the heel (w.Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Vocab. 26; s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ayr. 1952); a sore on a horse's heel or hind pastern. Obs. in Eng. Adj. moul(l)ie, -y, mool(l)ie, -y, affected with chilblains, esp. in comb. moulie-heel, a heel so affected (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 36; s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; e.Rs.1 1929; Cai. 1963), used as a term of contempt, esp. by schoolboys (Arg.1 1930; Edb. 1963).Fif. 1713 Two Students (Dickinson 1952) 19:
Kenny's heels are not yet free of the mouls.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 284:
Without a thought of host or moul.Rnf. 1805 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 38:
Tae creesh the nation's moolie-heels, An butter Commerce' rusty wheels.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 207:
Kickin' the neist to garr him gae, On's mooly-heel rapt horny tae.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 105:
Gude keep ye aye frae warlocks, witches, . . . Mooly heels, cramps, toothach, stitches.w.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan Add. 509:
Superstition has a cure for these painful affections of the extremities. Go to a strange door at night, and tap gently; when questioned from within, "Wha's there?" answer, "Moullie-heils, tak' ye them there," when the complaint is immediately transferred to the person within.
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"Moul n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/moul_n>
