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.
†UNTHIRL, n., v.
I. n. Land outside the Sucken or Thirl of a particular mill; the dues paid to a mill for the grinding of corn grown on land not astricted to it. See Unsucken, Outsucken, Out-toun, II. Also attrib. Hist.Rxb. 1784 Session Papers, Duke of Roxburgh v. Mein State of Process 29:
He oft-times carried the corn both of the thirl and unthirl to and from the mill. The five and twentieth part, which is esteemed unthirl-dues with them.Rxb. 1785 Session Papers, Memorial R. Mein (25 June) 13:
The out-town multure or unthirl paid only the twenty-fifth part in corn.
II. v. In ppl.adj. unthirled, not bound by conditions or thirlage to a particular mill. See Thirl, v.2, 1.Rxb. 1784 Session Papers, Duke of Roxburgh v. Mein, State of Process 20:
There was no unthirled grist in the barony of Roxburgh.