Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DELL, n. The goal in games (Abd. 1825 Jam.2; Abd.9, Fif.10 1940); “a marked off corner of the playground within whose confines was safety” (Abd. 1938 A. Keith in Abd. Press and Jnl. (26 March) 6). Cf. Dool, n.2, v.2Arg. 1901 R. C. Maclagan Games Argsh. 16:
There is a “dell” or “den” formed by making any convenient number of holes in the ground, usually four, each forming the corner of a square about eight yards.
