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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scaffalting, Scaffal(l)ing, Schaffaldin(g, vbl. n. Also: scaf(f)ald-, -old-, skaf(f)alt-, -elt-, -olt-, -ald-, -eld-, -old-; skauffauld-; scalfatt-, skalfat-, -falt-, -ffauld-, -fett-; scaffat-, -et(t)-, -yt-, skaffat-, -et(t)-, skeffett-, skavet-, skevat-, -et-; scaffol(l)-, -el(l)-, -ull-, scaffl-, scafall-, skaffall-, -el(l)-; skaifill-; schaffalt-, -elt-, -att-; scofold- and -yng, -yn(e, -ene, -ein; (skaftolting). [ME skaffalding (once, north., 1347–8), e.m.E. scaffoldyng (1512), skaffollyng (1531), scaffling (1663); Scaffald n. and v.]

1. A temporary framework consisting of a platform held in position by props, etc. (or, later, suspended from above) to accommodate workmen engaged on construction, decoration, etc. and their materials. Also, once, pl., in the same sense.Quot. 1687 in (d) below may rather be an example of Scaffald n. 2 with erron. word-spacing.(a) 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 153.
As to the making of scaffalting … the … cheptour findand the stuffe … thar to 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 279.
Rauchteris for skaffeltein 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 25.
Skaffaltyng 1530 Ib. 29.
For … aikkin sparris for trestis and nedlis for scaffalting 1532 Ib. 80.
For ii^m dure nalis … for syle and skaffolting Ib. 85.
Corvaill naill to the vppsetting of the grete skaffalting 1537–8 Ib. 220.
Skaffelting 1555–6 Edinb. Old Acc. I 181.
Skaffalting(b) 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 109.
For xii faldomis of cord to be skalfalting to the sklateris 1555–6 Edinb. Old Acc. I 193.
For sawing of uther small geistis to be lycht barkatts treistis scalfatting to the vindes 1587 Dundee B. Laws 143.
For pyners of timmer to be skalfetting 1587 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 284.
For aucht menis disiwnis that maid the skalfating in the stepill(c) 1552 Edinb. Hammermen 191.
Skauffauldin(d) 1513 Aberd. B. Rec. I 85.
Scaffalding 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I 298.
Twa pypis to be skaffaldene 1559–60 Ib. 334.
Skaffaldin 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 75. 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 428.
Ane auld schipps balk coft to the skaffelding of the kirk 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 300.
iij 100 grit nailles … for skafalding and foote gangis 1672 Soc. Ant. XIV 333.
Scafalding 1687 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 9 April.
For putting in a hinging scafoldin the milnholl 1722 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 154.
For scofolding to the dressing of the laigh kirk(e) 1497 Treas. Acc. I 355.
To x werkmen to help vp with the ruf of Hannis toure and the skaffating of it 1506–7 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 613.
As to the making of scaffating and wpputting of the said silouris the said Mychell sall mak the samyn 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 20.
Scaffytyng 1530 Ib. 40.
Skaffatyn Ib. 50.
Scaffatyne 1538 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 90.
[That they] awaitt vpoun the grathing of thair rowmes, in skaffetting, personages and ordour thairof 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I 261.
Skaffeting 1571–2 Haddington Treas. Acc.
For setting vp the scaffetting 1578–9 Ib.
For … strykin of the cintreis & scaffeting 1586–7 Dundee Treas. Acc.
Skaveting 1589 Trans. Edinb. Archit. IX 131.
The said Mr. Dauid sall furneis … skaffatene and sentreis for the pend of the said port(f) 1557–8 Cromarty Corr. I 249.
Skeffetting 1586–7 Dundee Treas. Acc.
Skevating Ib.
Skeveting(g) 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 221.
xiiij mastis to be scaffaling for up[p]utting of the ruiff Ib. 229.
To vj pynouris … in servyng of the masonis dounetaking of the scaffaling 1561 Edinb. B. Deeds 12.
The saidis … sall fynd to the said werkmen ledderis laithe & skaffellyng 1585 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 387.
For berin the tymmer to be Jon Melvill skaffelin quhen he pantit the beleue in the kirk 1593–4 Ayr Common Good Acc.
Skaffalling 1609 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 558.
Ten daillis to be lath and scaffalling to the belhous 1624–5 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 135.
For sax common deills to mak the first scaffeling 1624–5 Misc. Spald. C. V 101.
For scaffolling to the upputting the windowis 1629 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 293.
Scafalling 1629–30 Misc. Spald. C. V 103.
Scaffalin 1635 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. III 315.
Scaffullin 1644 in Dundee Chart. 173.
John Mylne, maister measoun, … to furnish all necessaries, scaffoling & all, … for the ground & soll of those roundis 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 214.
The said scaffalling is rowinous(h) 1628–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 273.
For … doun taking of the windowis for the wrichtis skaifilling and putting of thame up againe(i) 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 430.
Scaffling(j) 1509–10 Edinb. Hammermen 68.
To twa pynouris for berin of the pipis to the schaffeltin 1515 Treas. Acc. V 24.
Schaffaltin 1534–5 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 124.
Sax dosone of gret birkin treis … to be schaffaldin and trestis to the chapell syloring 1532 Reg. Cupar A. I 314.
Ledderyng, schaffatting, lachter, fyr and fewell neidfull to the owtreddyng of the said werk 1581 Red Bk. Menteith II 420.
To the wrychtis for sawing and vpputting of schaffalding(k) 1573 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 12 July.
Skaftolting [?misreading of skaffolding]pl. 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 217.
To the furnessing of the wrychtis fluringis sylingis … skaffaltingis

2. A platform or stand. 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 106.
Thow saw makand rycht costlie scaffalding [Pitsc. I 373/22, scalffaulding], Depayntit weill with gold and asure fyne, Reddie preparit for the vpsetting 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 197.
For scaffalding & vther neidfull provisioun at hir maiestieis entres

3. The action of providing (something) with scaffolding. 1632–3 Misc. Spald. C. V 104.
For scaffelling the cross on the coronatioune daye 1650 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 249.
To goe speidilie about the provyding of trees … for skaffolding the wallis of this toun