Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
POWL, v.2 To wriggle, squirm, writhe about (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1966), as of a newly-caught fish.Marw.:
It [fish] lay powlan on the tulfers . . . A chicken on the point of emerging from a shell would be said to be “powlan i' the egg”.
