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: 1747, 1830-1841
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TOWL, v. Sc. form and usage of Eng. toll, of a bell (Gall. 1703 Session Bk. Minnigaff (1939) 104; Sc. 1821 Scott Kenilworth xii.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 61). [tʌul]
1. Of (queen) bees: to emit an intermittent series of single clear notes, as a signal preparatory to swarming. Vbl.n. towling (Cld. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1747 R. Maxwell Bee-Master 46:
This Sound, commonly called Towling, proceeds, I suppose, from the young King, giving Signal to his Company to make ready for a March: You'll hear it performed on different Keys, and coming from different Corners of the Hive from different Kings: it pronounces, as it were, Peep, peep, peep, a Dozen or twenty Times successively with one Breath, then stops, calls that same Way again, and so on.Sc. 1830 Edb. Encycl. II. 414:
Before swarminning an uncommon humming or buzzing is heard in the hive, and a distinct sound from the queen, called tolling or callinng.
2. Of hounds: to bay.Arg. 1841 T. Agnew Poet Wks. 73:
They rush all upon him, with yelping and yowling — The voice of his foes near behind him is towling, And Spangle, in fact, he's got close to his tail.
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"Towl v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/towl>
