Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ARLE, AIRLE, ERL(E), n.sing. For definition see Arles, n. Not used in Mod.Sc. except (1) attributively.Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems and Songs, The Soldier's Return, Act i. Sc. iii. 20:
The bridal sheets! he, he, he, he, what bliss. The bridal sheets! O, gies an erl kiss!

(2) In comb. Arle-penny, airle-penny, arle-money, the coin or token as arles. Also used fig.Sc. 1722 Ramsay Poems (1800) II. 561:
And this is but an arle-penny To what I afterward design ye.Sc. 1732 T. Boston Crook in the Lot (1773) 123: 
These are but pledges, samples, arle-pennies.Edb. 1851 A. Maclagan Sk. from Nature 318:
Sae, if you an' me can but agree, I'll spend wi' glee the arle-penny.Ayr. 1792 Burns O Can Ye Labour Lea (Cent. ed.) i.:
I fee'd a man at Martinmas Wi' airle-pennies three.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales, etc. (1837) IV. 7:
Perceiving Tibby so comely . . . he hired her at nearly double wages, and moreover gave her a crown as arle-money.