DSL - SND1     FARL, n., v. Also farle, faarl, far(r)el, faurl; ferle (s.Sc.).     I. n. A three-cornered piece of oatcake, the fourth part of a BANNOCK; Gen.Sc., but obsol. in north. Also applied to flour scones (Ags., Ayr., Uls. 1950), morning rolls (Per.⁴ 1950), shortbread (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., ferle, farle), etc. Often in phrs. farl o' cake, farl o' scone, etc. (Gall. 1950).
    *Sc. a.1706 in J. Watson Choice Coll.i. 10:
    There will be good lapper'd milk Kebucks, And Sowens and Farles, and Baps.
    *Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 57:
    Then let his wisdom girn an' snarl O'er a weel-tostit girdle farl.
    *Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair vii.:
    Wi' sweet-milk cheese, in monie a whang, An farls bak'd wi' butter.
    *Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 43:
    Wha maisters want are unco douce, An' hae few ginge'bread farls.
    *Sc. 1830 Scott Leg. Montrose iii.:
    I have tasted no food since daybreak but a farl of oat-cake.
    *Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 98:
    Heat burstan bread an' faarls.
    *Ayr. 1889 H. Johnston Glenbuckie xix.:
    They had to patch up a meal of cold sowens with a farl of rye-bread thrown in.
    *Bwk. 1897 R. M. Calder Poems 70:
    There's a farl o' scones on the girdle . . . When I win to my chimla cheek.
    *Uls. c.1916 S. S. McCurry Ballads of Ballytumulty 33:
    How to harn the oaten farls That wudn't crack in two.
    *Crm. 1933 D. A. Mackenzie Stroopie Well 3:
    In the old days bannocks were baked in circular shape, and the sign of the cross was cut. The four portions thus formed were called ``farls''. When these were thoroughly fired, they were placed on the ``cheeks'' of the fire-place. It was unlucky to count the farls.
    ¶II. v. To provide with, feed on farls. Only in ppl.adj. farled.
    *Fif. 1845 T. C. Latto Minister's Kail-yard 11:
    The saftest gliders thro' the warld Are ne'er owre nice an' dainty farl'd.
    [A reduced form of FARDEL, q.v.]

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