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.

BED(D)RAL(L), Beddrel, bedril(l), Betherel, Betheral, n. A bedridden, maimed or crippled person. [′bɛdrɑl, ′bɛdrəl, ′bɛdrɪl Sc.; ′beðərəl, ′bɛdrɪl Ant., Dwn.]Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Sh. Fireside Tales (1892) vi.:
I'm ta be petied, left here . . . a puir beddral.Bnff.² 1933:
The form with which I am most familiar is “Beddral.”Abd. 1909 J. T. Jeannie Jaffray 177:
“Remember in prayer Jean Hunter, bedril,” — though she had been remembered for twenty years, Jean had never risen.Ayr. 1822 Galt Steam-Boat x.:
Shivering with the dread of having got my death of cold, or of being laid up as a betheral for life, with the rheumatics.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 58:
Bedrall. A person so lame or disordered that he is obliged to remain constantly a-bed.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
Bedrill, a bed-ridden person; same as Betherel.Uls. 1898 A. McIlroy Auld Meetin'-Hoose Green vi.:
Drivin' a puir lass tae her grave, — an' her wi' a pair o' beddrels dependin' on 'ir.