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.
Quotation dates: 1795-1805, 1925-1956
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BERGEL(L), BERGLE, BERGILL, BERGAL, BERGELT, n. Used in Ork. and Sh. for some species of the wrasse, Labrus, Eng. ballan. Both in Ork. and Sh. there is a great variety of forms, of which see a few in quots. [′bɛrgəl] Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., bergle, bergell, the wrasse, berguylt, the black goby; 1908 Jak. (1928), berggiltek, berggilti, berggolti, -golt, -goltek, wrasse (labrus), bergelt, bergel; 1914 Angus Gl., bêrgülti, the black goby.Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XIV. 314:
Many other fish are caught about this coast . . . called in this country milds, bergills, skate.Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist. of Ork. 289:
The Wrasse (labrus tinca Lin. Syst.) that has here got the name of bergle.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Bergel, the wrasse. . . . Also in form bergilt and berrigal, bergilto and bergiltin.Mry.2 1925:
Runkie or Norway Haddock or Bergylt.
fig. (See quot.)Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Bergel, a stout dumpy person or animal.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 189:
"Wha's yin aald bergal that's haedan this wey?"
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"Bergel n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bergell>
