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 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Singill, Single, n. [e.m.E. sengle (1486), single (1531); Singil(l adj. Also, in sense a, in the later Sc. and north. Eng. dials.] a. A small bundle of gleaned corn; a handful of gleanings. b. A single amount (of money), only in contrast with the doubill (amount).a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 115.
Thow lay full prydles in the peise this somer And fane at evin for to bring hame a single 1616 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 151.
James Dewar … accusit for prophaining the Sabbothe by threshing, answeirit that he did thresh bot a verie short space—twa or thre singlis—in his necessitie 1634 Wedderburn Gramm. 12.
Merges, a single of corne 1638 Henderson Serm. 203.
After the first-fruits, then comes sheaves, not singles but sheaves 1699 Cramond Kirk S. IV 27 Aug.
James Jervie … had broken the Lord's day by buying, receiving & payeing for singles of corn from stranger gatherersb. 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 13 Nov.
For the singill of his mareige vz. ii^m merk & for the dowble thairof fower thowsand merkis 1606 Glasgow Chart. I ii 275.
The doubill of the yeirlie siluer duetie … and the singill of the victuall duetie and of all vther dueteis expressit thairin