Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SILE, n.³ Also syle; syl; sail (Jak.). A short iron or wooden bar resting in a socket across the eye on the underside of an upper millstone and fitted on top of the spindle of the horizontal mill wheel by which the stone was made to revolve (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1970). Comb. ground-sile, the iron plate on the sole-tree (see Sole), on which the lower end of the spindle revolves. Used fig. in phr. aff o da sile, out of one's usual health or temper, cross, out of sorts (Sh. 1970). [səil]Rnf. 1715 Brigend Papers MSS. 26:
Lifting tree, Sword, Cloves, bridg, and foot stone with the Meal Syl all sufficient.Sh. 1886 P.S.A.S. XX. 275:
The sile is the small iron bar fixed across the under side of the eye of the upper millstone, in checks cut to receive it on either side of the opening. . . . Sole-tree. — This, termed also the under-balk, is the beam upon which the tirl stands. Its inner end is fixed with a wooden pin, upon the centre of the bolster-head, from which it stretches forward at right angles. Near its centre is fixed the ground-sile or ground-keeng.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 196:
The handmill is taken off the sile and turned upside down on the looder, lest during the helly days it should be driven widdershins by witch and warlock.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (26 Oct.):
A'm tinkin' ye're baith aff o' da syle da night!Ork. 1912 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 22:
On the under side two notches were cut opposite to each other at each side of the eye or hole for the ‘sile' or cross bridge of wood to be fitted into, a bush or hole was bored in the centre of this to fit the spindle, fastened in the lower stone.Sh. 1962:
When the upper stone went too fast, it sometimes went off the sile. Hence when a child was out of sorts it might be said — “Da bairn is aff o da sile.”