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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.

Skellat, -et, -it, n. Also: scellat, skillet. [North. ME skellet (1398-9), OF *eskelette, var. of eschelete (1160 in Greimas) a small bell, med. L. scella, scilla, f. OHG (cf. mod. Germ. schellen to sound, ring.).] A small bell; a handbell.Occasionally hung in a steeple or bell-tower, but most often used as a handbell by a town bellman. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 162/50.
Unto no mess pressit this prelat For sound of sacring bell nor skellat 1567 Sat. P. iii 216.
In thair dispyte thy scellat sall I ring 1569 Aberd. B. Rec. I 366.
That the sacrister of thair parroche kirk sall caus jow the greit bell callit Nicolas at four hours in the morning and that [sic] the littill bell callit the skellat at aucht houris at evin 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I 9.
That the westir ruinous gavill of the Blackfreir kirk and the stanes thairof be tane doun, and be the skellat precedyng rowpit 1576 Glasgow B. Rec. I 55.
The baillies to caus the skellat to pas throw the towne 1595 Glasgow B. Rec. I 173.
The … counsale ordanes the drum and skellat to pas throw the towne commanding [etc.] 1663 Glasgow B. Rec. III 4.
Ordaines Thomas Finesone who hes the skellet to get a stand clothes

b. comb. With bell, gaird, ? = a bell-shaped guard (for a sword).(1) 1550–1 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For cordis to the skellat bell xviij s. 1578 Eccl. Annals Perth (1885) 43.
The Assembly ordains … to buy an tow to the little skellet bell 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 301.
The thesaurer to by and furneis to the said College ane sufficient skellet bell 1590 Glasgow B. Rec. I 153.
The … counsall hes gevin thair twa commoun bellis, viz. the mort and skellet bellis togidder with the office of pwnterschipe to George Johnstoune 1591 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 427.
Grathing & hynging the skellet bell quhen the curfor bell was brokin 1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II 315.
Appoynts Charles Glen to get ane tryell of the skellet bell for aught dayes 1667 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 150.
The poore man that aught him could not find him till he caused the skillet bell goe through for him 1671 Craven Ch. in Orkney 46.
S. Magnus Kirk … brunt downeward untill the steeple heid, … but the bells … being three great bells, and a little one called the skellat bell, were preserved 1697 Stirling B. Rec. II 341.
For the skellat bell going throw if any had complaints against the officers(2) 1583 Arch. Scot. I 170.
[Robert Lyal being admitted a gairdmaker, wrought for his essay] a pair of clam [pr. clain] skellit gairds, and ane pair ribbit gairds