Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PILE, n.2, v.2 Also pyle. Sc. usages:
I. n. As in Eng., a heap, specif. in Sc. one of the heaps of sand used in the ancient Annan practice of casting the mell (see Mell, n.1, 4.) by which poke-net fishing rights in the Solway are allotted. Comb. pile-builder, one who takes part in this procedure. See quot. and II. 1.Dmf. 1952 Sc. Daily Mail (14 Feb.):
Near the town [Annan], on the sandy Solway shore, 17 local fishermen built themselves sand-heaps. Then, with a show of indifference, they turned away while a neutral observer strolled round the circle and kicked over one of the heaps. The “mell” had been cast. It is the old system of allotting poke-net fishing rights to the Royal Burgh's fishermen and by which the builder of the first overturned sand-heap gets first choice of the fishing section. After him each alternate pile-builder gets a choice of remaining sections. . . . The custom goes back to the days when a neutral observer threw a heavy hammer into the circle of sand-heaps, the pile nearest to the hammer's fall getting first choice.
II. v. 1. As in Eng., to make into a heap or pile, specif. in the casting of the mell procedure among Halve- or Pock-net fishers in Annan: to heap sand into piles in the procedure of casting lots for choice of station (see quot. under I.); by extension, to decide or allocate limits of fishing in the Solway. Hence piler, n., the man chosen to do this, in more recent times by a simple rota system (see quot.).Dmf. 1962 Stat. Acc.3 156–7:
When a fisherman buys his licence to fish on a certain stretch of water he is given a number to mark his place in the rota for piler — the man who decides where the back is to be. . . . One fisherman is piler for only one tide but he may pile both the flood and the ebb of the same tide.
2. To increase the motion or pace of a swing, scooter or the like by movements of the body or feet, to “boost”, “work up”, “punt” (Kcd., Per., Fif.(on) 1965). Hence piler, n., a boy's home-made cart, gen. a soap-box or the like on wheels, which is propelled in this way (e. and wm.Sc. 1965).Fif. 1954 Bulletin (5 June) 13:
He said he had taken the wheels of the pram to make a “piler”.Gsw. 1955 Bulletin (6 Sept.) 4:
“Hurrah! I'm on!” he cries when he eventually succeeds in clambering up [on to a swing]. “This is great. Noo I'll just haud ticht an' pile masel' up”Ags. 1962 D. Phillips Lichty Nichts 61:
Takn claes t' the wahshie on m' piler.
