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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.

Kirnell, Kirnal(e, n.² Also: kyrnell, -eill, -aill, -ale; kirnall. [North. and north midl. ME. kirnel (a 1300), var. of ME. kernel(l (a 1225), ONF. kernel (also OF. quernel), var. of OF. crenel (cf. Crinell n.).]

A notch or embrasure in a battlement, a crenel. In plur., sometimes = battlements.Also, appar. a (? battlemented) salient or turret of a castle. Also attrib. in kirnall turnpyk (= spiral stair). (a) 1375 Barb. x. 365 (E).
Fra it in ane kyrneill [C. kyrnaill] war, And the laddre tharfra straitly Strekit, it suld stand sekyrly Ib. 402 (C).
Festnyt … in the kyrnell [E. kyrneill] Ib. xvii. 359 (E).
Till ilk kyrnell [C. kyrneill] that war thar, Archeris to schut assignyt war a1500 K. Hart 106.
Touris … So craftelie with kirnellis kervin hie 1513 Doug. ix. ix. 12.
A towr of tre … With batellyng and kyrnellys all at ryght Ib. xi. 1.
Endlang the wallys kyrnellys 1533 Boece x. x. 370.
Fra kirnellis & the battelling … haleschot of stanys … stoppit Scottis fra the entre 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 139.
xiiii pece sailyes for reprise to round kirnellis 15.. Clar. ii. 1485.
The curious kirnellis ryseing upon heicht Glittering and schyning 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vii. 159.
Pinnis, kirnellis 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 22.
The said Colene … biggit … the four kirnellis of the castell of Ilankeilquhirne in Glenvrquhay 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 340.
The top of the auld gauill … to the biggit vp … with four kirnellis of hewin wark Ib.
That the kirnellis … salbe fyue futes in wyidnes within … and the kirnellis, corballis and reckis to be all aboue the rigging sex futes of hicht(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 37.
Ane archare in a kyrnale stude ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) ii. 3995.
All the kirnallis of the walles The burgessis gais to 1491 Reg. Great S. 429/1.
Ad edificandum … castrum … cum … portculicis, le kirnalis, et machcoling a1540 Freiris Berw. 13 (M).
The castell … With kirnallis closit most craftelie of all c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 586.
That hald … With subtill wark it was sa roborat Properlie alswa with kirnalis weill quadrat 1699 Thanes of Cawdor 393.
They are lykwise to build two kirnalls or rounds seilled over the wall that the gun holl may clenge the futt therof two wayesattrib. 1611 Macgibbon & Ross V. 6.
At the west syde of this paintrie vpon the aingill ane kirnall turnpyik to ryis be ane hewinn dure

b. sing. A battlemented parapet, a battlement. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 315.
To the kirnall of the tour he him haistit a1500 K. Hart 783.
Langour the watche attour the kirnale flaw