Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1875-1901
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HERLE, n. Also her(e)l, herral; huril; herald (Ags. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 144); erle (Fif. 1949), yerl. The heron, Ardea cinerea (Ags. 1808 Jam., herle, huril; Fif. 1887 Jam.; Ags. 1893 W. Gregor Dunbar's Wks. (S.T.S.) III. 85, Per. Ib., Tammie herl; w.Fif.1 1930, Ags. (herald), Knr. (erle) 1957). Also fig. a dwarfish, undernourished child or small animal (Per. 1825 Jam.), but poss. a different word. [hɛrl]Fif. 1901 G. Setoun Skipper of Barncraig 278:
Up from the end rock came a croaking protest from a "long-necked-yerl."
Hence herral-neckit, having a long neck like a heron's.Fif. 1875 A. Burgess Poute 80:
In fact, Tibby, the mair herral-neckit they can mak' themsel's they think it the better.
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"Herle n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/herle>
