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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Jangill, Jangle, v. [ME. jangle (a 1300), OF. jangler.]

1. intr. To talk idly, noisily, or discordantly. a. To chatter, prate, prattle, gossip. b. To grumble against others, find faults, backbite. c. To wrangle, squabble, quarrel noisily. c1475 Wall. vi. 920.
Wallace said ‘Schyr, we jangill bot in wayne’ a1500 Prestis of Peblis 20.
Thai lufit nocht with ladry … , Bot with thaimself quhat thay wald tel or crak, Vmquhyle sadlie, vmquhyle jangle and jak 1513 Doug. Æn. Exclam. 33.
Forto chyde sum beyn so brym and hote … And has sik custum to jangill and to bakbyte 1549 Compl. 39/19.
The iargolyne of the suallou gart the iay iangil 1629 Boyd Last B. (1629) 530.
All our dispute at last is found to be but vpon … triffles, … wee are in end found to haue beene … only jangling and cangling

2. tr. To argue, assert with argument (that etc.). 1681 Colvill Whig's Suppl. (1751) 22.
And other some do stifffly jangle That they and thighs make a quadrangle

3. tr. = Jape v. 1. c1475 Wall. vi. 150.
So said the prest that last janglyt thi wyff

4. intr. ? Confused with Juggil v. : To practise deceptions or evasions like a conjurer. 1573 Sat. P. xl. 51.
With iouking thay will jangil craftelie And on thair feit will ay licht quhen thay list