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.
SKELL, n.2, v.2 Also skail; ¶skeyld; skil(l) (Jak.). [skɛl]
I. n. A clashing sound “such as that caused by the sea breaking upon the beach” (Ork. 1884 R. M. Fergusson Rambles 167), the noise of the surf, “the sound of gentle wavelets or ripples breaking on the beach” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1904 E.D.D., 1908 Jak. (1928)). Hence adj. skelly, noisy, turbulent.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
“A skelly day”, a terrible day, as e.g. “when the press-gang visited a house”.
II. v. Of surf: to break on the shore, ripple (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[Of somewhat uncertain orig., poss. cogn. with Norw. dial. skjell(e), (to) crack, rattle, bang, O.N. skellr, skjalla, id., (to) clash. But cf. also Norw. skylle, to swill, skylle i land, to wash ashore.]
