Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
OSEL, n. Also osal, ossel, -il, ozzel, ozle. One of the series of short cords by which a herring-net is attached to the head-rope of the fleet (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 121, ozle; I. and n.Sc., Bwk., Arg. 1964; Mry. 1980s); the short piece of hair-cord attaching the hook to a fishing line (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)). [ozl; Sh. ′ɔsəl]Sc. 1750 F. Grant Letter to M.P. 43:
DD are the Ossels; . . . each 18 inches long; they are fixed to two Mashes at one End by an Eye, and to the Spier-rope by the other End.Sc. 1881 P.S.A.S. III. 150:
The nets . . . are attached to a strong “rape” or rope by means of thinner cords known as “ozzels”. These ozzels are first fixed, generally by the women, to the nets every five “masks” or meshes, and are afterwards twisted round the “rape” by the men.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (12 Aug.):
Osels, cork, cutch, rods, reels, flies, and every requisite for sea and loch fishing.Abd. 1960 Buchan Observer (26 Jan.):
Is there one so-skilled apprentice in the herring line who could turn to with the sheet, the ropes, the corks and the “ozels” and produce, after even a week's work, a net ready for sea?
