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.
Quotation dates: 1437
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Semmell, n. [Of doubtful etymology; perhaps related to 19th c. Sc. sellum, semble, ‘the parapet of a bridge’ (SND, s.v. Sellum n. and Semble n.). Cf. also e.m.E. selme (1591) ‘a bar of a gate’ (OED), and Semble n.2] (Asillar) semmell: ? A length of (hewn) stone in the form of a bar or pillar. — 1437 Ayr B. Ct. 9 Oct.
The quhilk day Robin Petigrew was oblist to gif to the commonis of Are of gude asillar semmell of the thiknes of ix inch be the lest a hundreth pece for the treis of the brig
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"Semmell n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/semmell>
