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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fial(l, n. Also: fyall, fieall, fiel. [Later form of Feal(e n.]

1. Payment for work or services; wages, salary. = Feail(e n. 2.(a) 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 47.
My sone to mak … payment … to my seruandis & warkmen of thair fiallis 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 634.
We pray you remember to get us ane competent fiall for our pains 1653 Stirling Ant. II. 12.
An act of parliament to stent the parish for a fiall as the maintinance of a scoolmaister not above two hundreth merk 1696 Falkirk Par. Rec. II. 53.
Money gotten for throughstones he delyvered for payment of clerks' fials(b) 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II. 488.
This corne … is the chief fieall annexit for custody of the castell of Lochmaben 1596 Paisley B. Rec. 183.
For the clerks pains … thair sall be ane honest fieall appointit for him yeirlie 1658 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 539.
To John Scot aind Johne Aikin for there fiel in attending the twa new wellis 1681 Corshill Baron Ct. 157.
For ane hirdis cosnant fieall this last summer, fourtine pond thirtine shilling four pennyes

2. A paid servant or workman. = Feal(e n. 3. c1650 Spalding II. 280.
Ordour wes gevin, … commanding all prenteisseis, seruandis, fiellis, not to change thair maisteris whill Mairtymess nixt 1683 Elgin Rec. I. 332.
Each … maister of fyalls and uther prenteisses

3. = Feal(e n. 1. 1630-1651 Gordon Hist. Earls Sutherl. 253 (J).
John Gray of Skibo had the lands of Ardinch in fiall from John … .Earle of Sowtherland