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.
TOIL, v., n. Also tile (Dmb. 1889 Poets Lennox (Macleod) 250), tyle (Cai. 1872 M. Maclennan Peasant Life 29); †toyl; towl (Knr. 1887 H. Haliburton Puir Auld Scotland's Sake 253). Sc. usages. For historical Sc. forms see Tulyie. [Sc. təil. See P.L.D. § 46. (2); Fif. †tʌul]
I. v. 1. Used refl., to exhaust oneself with hard work (Sh. 1972). Obs. in Eng. since the 17th c.Sc. 1857 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Froude 1883) II. 331:
Ye just toiled yersel last year.Edb. 1881 J. Smith Habbie and Madge 11:
Toiling yersel' frae six in the morning till six at nicht.
2. To pull or drag about, to handle roughly. Obs. in Eng. since the 15th c. Vbl.n. toilin.Ayr. 1819 Kilmarnock Mirror 233:
We michte tell o' the sad toilin' an' cadguin' the puir weanie gets.
II. n. Combs. and phr.: 1. to go to the toil, to go to work, to pursue a daily occupation; ¶2. toil-hained, saved with great labour; ¶3. toil-sprent, bearing the marks of toil. See Sprent, v., 3.1. Gsw. 1935 A. McArthur and H. K. Long No Mean City vii.:
I wouldny mind going to the toil again if I was married to you, Liz.2. Sc. 1874 W. Allan Hame-Spun Lilts 226:
Rascals can tear and rive His toil-hained a' that they may thrive.3. Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poetry I. 151:
Syne a' is din; the toil-sprent brow, Is rubb'd baith smooth and fair.
