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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CABAL, CABBLE, Caball, Cabawl, n. and v. Sc. usages and forms of Eng. cabal. [kə′bɑl, kɑbl]

I. n.

1. A group of people met together for gossip or drinking. Known to Abd.¹⁹, Abd.²² 1938.Sc. 1704 Second Book Sc. Pasquils (1828) 66:
Ye're all A druken, rebellious and senseless caball.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Calendar I. vi.:
Think what the town would say, if I were to keep cabals o' drinkers in my sober house.

2. A violent dispute (Bnff.² 1938, cabble).Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 318:
What for did the painters cast out among themselves, and whence a' this cabawl?Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
Faht's a' the cabble aboot?

II. v. 1. To quarrel, dispute. Ppl.adj. and vbl.n. cabal(l)ing.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
Ye needna cabble aboot it wee 'im.Ags. 1719 Dundee Kirk Session Records (17 Aug.):
Guilty of breaking the Lords day by cabaling with vagabonds.Arg. 1901 N. Munro Doom Castle iv.:
Some months of caballing with our friends — even our Hielan' friends — in the France, left me with an unwholesome heart that would almost doubt my father in his grave.

2. To find fault; known to Bnff.² 1938. Ppl.adj. cabblin', querulous.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
He's eye cabblin' at the puir bit thing o' a lassie aboot faht she canna help.Ib.:
He's a cabblin' bodie.