Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1712, 1862-1995
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PUIL, n., v. Also puill (m.Sc. 1961 T. T. Kilbucho Shepherd's Years 31), pule (Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality x.; Ags. 1901 W. J. Milne Reminiscences 88; m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 46); pull; pill; pöl (Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 241), poll, pjol (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). I., m. and s.Sc. forms and usages of Eng. pool. See also Peel, n.5 [pøl, pyl, pɪl]
I. n.
Sc. form of Eng. pool.Abd. 1995 Sheena Blackhall Lament for the Raj 7:
I anely hid ae notion: a pleisunt dwaum
Yon o the burnie drawin near the sea
An yearnin tae be cheenged inno a puil,
A meenit tae devaul ...
Sc. usages:
As in Eng., in Sh. specif. applied to a small marsh, a patch of swampy ground (Jak., pjol, Sh. 1967).
II. v. 1. To steep in a pool, gen. used of flax or the like.Rxb. 1902 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. 9:
When in autumn the plant had been pulled up by the roots, it first underwent the process of "breaking," which consisted of removing the capsules or seed-pods. It was then tied up in bundles and "pooled," or steeped in pools of water.
2. To make a hole or hollow in, to hole. Specif. in quarrying: to make a hole for the insertion of a wedge or charge; in Mining: to undercut coal (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 50, 52, puil, pool, peel). Of Sc. orig., now also in Eng. technical usage.Lnk. 1712 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 130:
Prohibiting and discharging all persons whatsomever to break or abuse the saids highways . . . or any way breaking or pooling the samine.Gsw. 1862 J. Gardner Jottiana 73:
To shearin, pillin hard ye set On knees, or back, or belly.Sc. 1863 N.B. Daily Mail (5 May):
[He] was working at the face of the seam, undermining or pooling the coal so as to bring it down.e.Lth. 1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 54:
Did ye sit on yer hunkers, wi a foot ranst against the wa' face, when ye began to "puil"?Ayr. 1950:
When a miner is lying on his side and using a pick to get coal out of a low shaft, he is said to be "pillin".
