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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FAULD, n.¹, v.¹ Also faul, fald, fa(u)d. Sc. forms of Eng. fold, a bend, to bend, etc. [Sc. fǫ:ld but n.Sc., sm.Sc. fɑ:l, Ags., Per. fǫ:d. See P.L.D. § 64.1.]

Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. A strand (of rope) (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), fald; Sh., Ork., Bnff., Abd., Ags. 1950).Ork. c.1912 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 9:
Four or five faulds of straw simmons twisted together.Abd. 1925 A. Murison Rosehearty Rhymes 3:
His veins like the fauls o' a rape stickin' oot.

2. A layer.Cai.¹ 1928:
She spread 'e baunag wi' a guid faul o' croodie.

‡3. A folding-seat.Per. 1918 J. Meikle Old Session Bk. 206:
The elders' pew in the nineteenth century was a “faud” in front of the first pillar.

II. v.

 Sc. forms of Eng. fold. Also ppl adj.Slg. 1991 Janet Paisley in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 129:
Well, she faulded her airms, sniffs as if she's in pain.
'Maggie,' she says, 'don't you ever sweer in here again.'Ags. 1994 Mary McIntosh in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 149:
Jist tae lat aabody ken she wis nane pit aboot by the hale tirr-wirr. Twa can play at that gemm so I fauded my face intae quaitness an speired hoo she wis daein.Lnk. 1997 Duncan Glen From Upland Man 8:
Only auld shune are left hung on strippit waws
for luck. Fauldin doors are being pit up
the haill lang length o the stables.

Sc. usages:

1. To shut, close (a door (Sc. 1887 Jam.), a clasp knife, the eyes, the fist, etc.). Ppl.adj. ¶fau'd.Cai. 1776 Weekly Mag. (25 Jan.) 145:
Troth, Branky, man, I hinna faul't my een Since here I left you havrin' late the streen.Slk. 1822 Hogg Poems (1874) 414:
The bonnie lucken gowan Has fauldit up her e'e.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 100:
Their joctelegs being wiped, “faulded”, and lodged in their pockets.Rxb. 1847 H. S. Riddell Poems 283:
These taits o' gowden hair, Aboon thy faulded eye.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xii.:
I juist liftit my fau'd neive, an' . . . lent the chield wha had collared me a wallop.Ags. 1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sketches 58:
His big fauldin' whittle, an' ither queer tools.Kcd. 1929 J. B. Philip Weelum o' the Manse 16:
The would-be antagonist “coordied at aince and jist fauldit in like a joktileg.”

2. To double up, bend under one, of the limbs (Sh.¹⁰, Ags.¹⁹ 1951). Obs. in Eng. since 15th cent. Fig.: to lie at peace, motionless.Edb. 1798 D. Crawford Poems 54:
But, Ritchie, tho' I'm wearing auld, An' my twae limbs are like to fauld.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hamespun Lays 104:
Her tongue ne'er fauds, be't ear' or late — I kenna' hoo it hings thegether.

3. Phr.: to fauld a (one's) fit (Bnff., Abd. 1950), houch (Ags., Per. 1950), to sit down, to rest.Sc. 1725 Ramsay T.T. Misc. (1733) 120:
Thou falds thy feet, and fa's asleep, And thou'lt ne'er be like my auld goodman.Ags. 1833 J. Sands Poems 118:
Hunger's angry rage forbade On sic a trip our houghs to faud.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxx.:
I'm seer ye hinna faul't yer fit i' my hoose this towmon.Per. 1904 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Stories (2nd Series) 108:
Awa' Wattie hied . . . nor faldit a houch.Bnff. 1927 E. S. Rae Hansel fae Hame 46:
It's roch the furth; I needna speir — Ye'll faul your fit and tak' a rist?

III. Combs.: †1. fauld board, the hinged book-board of a tent or open-air pulpit; 2. twa-fad, bent double. See Twa.1. Dmf. 1867 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. III. 54:
It was a great advantage to lean over the fauldboard and glance at all around, making some allusion to the sleeping dust beneath.