Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1808-1928
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STAVEL, v., n. Also stayvel, stevel, stivel (Sc. 1887 Jam.), and irreg. steevel, stibble. [stevl]
I. v. To walk in a halting, uncertain manner, to stumble, blunder on (Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 41; Sc. 1825 Jam.; Kcb. 1900; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.: Fif. 1971). Also in n.Eng. dial.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 130:
Mang Russian dales where winter girns, Did Bonnie rashly stevel.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms lxxxii. 5:
I' the mirk, they gang stevlin on.Dmf. 1873 A. C. Gibson Folk Speech Cmb. 117:
I, darklin', stayvelt owre the bent, An' fan' the cot, but ither guidin'.Ags. 1888 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) XI. 213:
Fouk will see me stibblin' hame.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 19:
[He], wi' the fley, a stoiter gaed An' narhan' steevelt i' the lade.
II. n. 1. A stumble (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971).Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 164:
Wi' mony a stoit an' stevel She rais'd a trot.
2. A hard blow that causes one to stagger (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971).
[Variant, with alternative freq. suff., of Staver, q.v.]
