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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.

Pal(l, n. Also: pa, paw. [ME. and e.m.E. pall, palle, pal, also late ME. pale (1463), ME. also pel (west midl., 13th c.), pelle (Prompt. Parv.), e.m.E. also pawle, paule (16th c.), OE. pæll, pęll ‘costly cloak or robe, purple robe, purple’, f. L. palli-um (med. L. also pauleum, 12th c.). Only in verse in Sc. (Cf. Paill n. of the same ultimate origin.)]

1. Rich or costly cloth.As suited for persons of rank. a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 557.
He … wypyt thame [the pieces] in pal [: al] ?1438 Alex. ii. 10736.
Weill cled in pillour and in pall [: hall] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 63.
To ane hie hall That wes astalit with pall Ib. 235.
The proudest in pall Ib. 313.
Ane pailyeoun … Of pall and of pillour a1500 Seven S. 194.
The empriour … on a clath of silk & pall [: hall] Set him Ib. 211.
With ladyis in purpour & in pall [: hall] 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 12.
Of gold and pal [Ruddim. pall] wrocht hys [the horse's] rych harnasyng Ib. i. ix. 106. c1635-80 Edwards Commonpl. Bk. 78 b.
Ve debat in a goun of pa [: hal]

2. A robe or cloak.As worn by persons of rank.To give (a maiden) waile (= veil) and pall, to admit as a nun. a1400 Leg. S. ix. 286.
The kinge for ire thane raf his pal [: smal] Of purpur [L. purpuram scidit] Ib. x. 422.
The apostil … thai madynnis all Blyssit & gefe tham waile & pall 1513 Doug. xi. xi. 97.
In sted eik of hir syde garmont or pall [L. pallae, Ruthv. of pall] Our the schuldris … a tygrys skyn … dyd hyng

3. = Paill n. 1. 1552 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 618.
Ane paw to the haly cros 16.. Balfour Her. Tracts 36–7 (see Paill n. 1 (a)).

4. (?) — 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 3.
For mendin … the band of the pall