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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.

Land-stal(e, -staill, -stell, n. Also: -stail(e, -steall, and -stoill. [Only Sc. Also in the later dial. as land-stale, -stell, -stehl, -style, -stool (and mod. north. Eng. dial. -stall) .For the second element cf. OFris. Dīkstathul, MLG. stāl (mod. LG. dial. Dīkstāl), e.m.Du. (dyck)stael(l foundation of a dam, OE. staðol foundation, and mod. Sc. dial. stale, staile, stewle foundation of a haystack. The second element appears to agree in form with that of Hede-stele n. headstall, which, however, is appar. f. OE. steall position, place.]

A foundation on land of a bridge or of a weir. a. An end-pier or abutment of a bridge. b. The landward foundation forming the end of a weir or dam.a. 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 173.
And to help to mak a sufficiand bryg of tre with landstalis of stane 1510–13 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. 159.
Per empcione … lutj ad fundamentum landstaile & pilarum pontis 1513 Ib. (S.H.S.) 286.
[To remove stones of the old] land-staile [and dig the foundation of the new one] 1515 Ib. 294.
[Stephen Lindesay to fill] lie landstail [with stones and earth, 19 s.] 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 395.
Ane substantious brig contenand sax pillaris, twa land stalis and seven bollis 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 85.
The Lordis ordanis him to procure the consent of the heretouris of the ground quhair the land-staillis of the bridges ar to be fixedb (a) 1466 Reg. Dunferm. 356.
Giff … the sayde abbot … will byg ony myln … I giff … full leiffe … to mak land stell and dame forganis my said landis of Gilbertstoun 1579 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 74 b.
The said Mr Wm. Cok … haweand licence and rycht … to the dame … and land staill thairof 1676 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 574.
[It was] altogether impossible for him to draw any damhead therto without a liberty from the Marquis of laying a dame in the said water and landsteall on the Marquis his lands Ib. 575.
Then … it salbe leisum … to his lordship … to cause throw doune the said landsteall 1684 Decis. Lords L. 313.
Sir Patrick craved power to affix the land-stail of his dam-head on the other side of the river, whereof Linthill has … right of property(b) 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II. 18.
Each maister of familie … to lay to ane stone of 8 stone weight for laying the ground of the bow bridge over the milnedam and land-stoilles thairof