Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Karl(e, Kairl(l, Kerle, varr. of Carl(e n. (rustic, man, fellow).(a) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3599.
Yhwmen, powere karl, or knawe, That wes of mycht an ox til hawe Ib. viii. 5571.
A karle, thai sayd, wes nere there-by, That wald set settys … Chyldyr and women for to sla 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 76.
Tyrrheus the maister storrour in ane rout The karlis [v.r. churlys] all assemblit him about(b) 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I. 39.
And give thair be ony stout kairle that will fight, set me till him 1602 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 228.
In calling him kaird-facit kairll(c) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1933 (B).
Sic ane wyld beggar kerle