Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ourhale, v. Also: oure- and -hail(e, -hayl(l, -hayle, -haill. [Sc. var. of Overhale v. (and cf. Ourharl(e v.); Hale v.¹, v.³ and v.⁴] tr.

1. To consider, survey, ‘go over’. c1420 Wynt. i. 1104.
Now hawe yhe herde me lychtly Ourehale the landys off Asy Ib. 1412 (C).
Ourhayllit c1409-1436 Kingis Q. 10.
And eft … all myn auenture I gan oure-hayle Ib. 158.

2. To overthrow, overpower.Also owrhailit with (= by). 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 174.
Ȝoung Romanis followit sa imprudentlye thair inimeis that thai wer ourehalit [L. circumventi] be the gait and slayn a1538 Abell 79 b.
Ay the pure is our halit & birnt a1601 Boyd Sonet.
Fra banc to banc fra wod to wod I rin Owrhailit with my feble fantasie

3. To overrun or pass over in an injurious way. In p.p., of the sun. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 13991.
The erde … Is with the son sa ourehalit and brent; Thare is na corne

4. To cover or suffuse. (See Hale v.³ and Ourhele v.) a1500 K. Hart 96.
The wynter weit … That dois thame [sc. flowers] quhile ourhaill with snaw and sleit 15.. Sym & Bruder 88.
They daschit him doun, the dirt ourhaild him