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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1665
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Knele, Kneil(l, v. Also: kneyl, kneel(e, kneell, knel(l. P.t. knelit, -yt, kneil(l)it, knilit; kneild, kneld; kneeled. P.p. knelyt. [ME. knele(n, early kneolien, cneolen, cnelen, cnylen; p.t. and p.p. kneled(e, knelid, -yd, kneld; also knewlen, cnewlen, OE. cnéowlian.]
1. intr. To kneel.(a) 1375 Barb. xii. 481, 2.
Quhen the Ynglis king had sicht Of thame kneland, he said … Ȝon folk knelis till ask mercy c1420 Wynt. vii. 2667.
Hewyd … and schankys bare [they] Suld knele [v.rr. kneill, kneyl] c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 578.
The hardy Scottis … gert mony cruell kneill 1535 Stewart 4761.
Mony cruell knycht Wes maid to kneill c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2346.
Kneland with cap in to thare hand(b) 1513 Doug. v. xiv. 59.
Quhen on him lenys this god, and tho he kneld [v.r. kneild] … as that the schip gan helde
b. Commonly with complements, as doun, on (one's) kne(is), to (someone or something).(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii. 1062.
Scho … let hyme nocht knele to the grond a1500 Golagros and Gawane 383.
Courtesly inclinand, and kneland on kne a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 160.
The kingis thocht na schame Till knell on kne c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 265 b/11.
With cap in hand first kneland on my kne c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 537.
Desperance deliuerit his missiue … Kneling full law 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 194.
To rottin banis ȝe gart vs kneill 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Homagium.
He that makis homage kneilis doun c1650 Spalding II. 32.
Kneilling doun by the block(b) 1375 Barb. xii. 477.
The Scottis men … Knelyt [all] doune, till God to pray a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi. 506.
Thai … mekly knelyt til his fet ?1438 Alex. ii. 3319.
He knelit him beforne c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 154.
[He] knelit doun anone law to the eird 15.. Clariodus v. 341.
Ladies … To utheris kneillit a1578 Pitsc. I. 209/14.
He … kneillit doune wpoun his knie and speirit at the Kingis grace 1615 Highland P. III. 184.
Thei knilit all befoir the luiftenant(b) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 850.
Scottis men … Kest wappynys [fra] thaim, and on thar kneis kneild [: feild](c) c1475 Ib. viii. 1233.
Quhen scho him saw, scho wald haiff knelyt doune
2. Common after 1618 in reference to kneeling at Communion.(1) 1619 Fife Synod 89.
[He] gave the elements with his awin hand to al the people, bot not kneeling, because he perceived the people vtherwyse inclyned a1651 Calderwood VII. 375.
It is lawfull to communicate capping, … therfore it is lawfull to communicate kneeling 1652 Moray Synod 114.
Suspended … from … the ministrie for giving the communione to the people they kneeling(2) 1619 Misc. Bann. C. I. 211.
They sould urge no mann to kneele, bot to give it to everie mann according as he desired to tak it 1637 Baillie I. 9.
That the Act of Perth does injoyne to kneill, for reverence, to the mysterious elements a1651 Calderwood VII. 546.
The Kirk of Scotland had wont to sitt … the Kirk of France stood; the worthie Kirks of England and Bohemia kneell 1665 Select Biographies I. 345.
The ministers of Edinburgh, who were conform, and kneeled
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"Knele v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/knele>
