Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DOTMEL, n. A cross-piece of wood at the fore end of the beam in the old Orkney plough.Ork. 1903 G. Marwick Old Roman Plough (1936) 7:
The little piece of wood within the kyollks or jaws is the principal means of this arrangement; the piece of wood is called the “dotmel.”
[Form and orig. obscure. Marw. connects with Dottle, n.1, though this seems doubtful. The second element may represent Norw. mel, the bit of a bridle, which the part resembles.]
