A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1535
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Befile, -fyle, v. [e.m.E. befyle, befile, ME. bifilen, bifulen, OE. befýlan.] tr. To befoul, dirty. c1500-c1512 Dunb. l. 48.
He fyld never sadell in his dais, And Curry befyld tua 1535 Stewart 39191.
Quhen that ane barne befyllit hes the bed c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyting 100 (M).
Thow … hes mony leische befylit
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"Befile v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/befile>
