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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†SEENDIL, adv., adj. Also seindle; seyndle, sendyle, sindle, -ill; se(e)nil, seen(n)le, sin(n)le, sinal, sinile, seinle, s(e)ynle, sennel, -il, and corrupt form single (Sc. 1825 Jam.). See D, 2. and P.L.D. § 126. 2. [sin(d)l, sɪn(d)l, sɛnl, səin(d)l]

I. adv. Seldom, rarely, infrequently. Obs. exc. liter. Deriv. senlins, id.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 7:
A gentle Horse should be sindle spar'd.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 17:
If Lindy chanc'd, as synle was his lot, To play a feckless or a wrangous shot.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 31:
The men wha think, but sennil speak.Ags. 1819 A. Balfour Campbell I. xviii.:
He's seenil at hame.Dmf. 1823 J. Kennedy Poems 43:
And how it may fare with my once panged press, To me is unknown, as I'm sendyle in dress.Knr. 1832 L. Barclay Poems 106:
A chap he is that sinal spares What neck he comes across.Ayr. 1858 M. Porteous Real “Souter Johnny” 31:
In a tuilzie seenle sweert, To tak your skair.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 198:
Kame sindle, kame sair.Ags. 1867 G. W. Donald Poems 163:
Death will senlins e'er be skair'd.Per. 1899 J. A. R. Macdonald Blairgowrie 12:
Tho' weel we ken far it sud be, Not sinnle seen.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 7:
For Dod, betimes, was dreich to draw, But, seenil, lang wi' Tam wad thraw.

II. adj. Rare, infrequent (Fif. 1825 Jam.). Adv. seinly, seenly, seenillie [ < seendil-ly], comb. sindle-times, rarely, seldom.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 168:
For sindle times they e'er come back.ne.Sc. 1790 Caled. Mercury (14 June):
Fou seinly dow thow see the sin.Ags. 1808 Jam.:
A seenil ein, one occurring by itself and seldom.