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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.

Flail(l, Flale, n. Also: fleil. [ME. flail(e, flayl(e, fleil(e, late OE. fliᵹel, OF. flaiel, flael.]

1. A thresher's flail. 1375 Barb. v. 318.
He suld a mantill haf, … And a flaill, as he a taskar ware a1500 Colk. Sow 266.
Thair banar … Festnitt on a lang flaill c1500 Rowll Cursing 135.
Than ruffie taskar with his flaill Sall beit thame all 15.. Christis Kirk 131.
With forkis and flalis thay leit grit flappis 1597 Reg. Privy C. V. 424.
[He was carrying] certane wand flaillis hame to his house 1620 Crim. Trials III. 488.
Streking him with kentis and flaillis 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 6.
Some had stings, some had flails

2. A well-sweep. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2399.
Lowrence gird doun [the well] … , The vther baid abufe, and held the flaill

3. A swing-bar of a gate. 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 286.
For taking of ane auld flaill of the West Port and putting on of ane uther; Item … for banding of the fleils with irne of the West Port [etc.] 1559–60 Ib. 310.
For mending of ane irne flale to the same port 1618 M. Works Acc. XV. ii. 30.
For 2 staples to bend the flaill in my lordis chalmer dore 1626 Ib. XIX. ii.
Swaines irne … for the flaill of the vtter ȝett

4. A swinging hammer for striking a bell. 1568 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 6.
For ane flaill that ringis the bell in the stepill 1607–8 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 559.
For mending the irne flaill of the bell