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. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Swaill, n. Also: swayll, swall, suaill, sueill, suald. [17th c. Eng. swale (1667, E. Anglia), also in the later dial.; cf. Swelch n.] A wet or boggy, low-lying stretch of ground.(a) 1504 (1584) Reg. Great S. 239/2.
Villam et terras de Swailend viz. biginnand at the burne of Lochtie, keipand the stripe quhill it enter in Beildeis swaill and keipand and ascendand upwith the said swaill quhill [etc.] … and fra the said Blakbriggis … quhill it cum to the Stragill myre [etc.] … quhill it cum to the burne of Lochtie at Ponduntanis haith quhilk … is pairt and pertinent of the foirsaidis landis of Swaillend [etc.] … and thairfra keipand the said burne still quhill it meit with the said stripe that rinnis furth of Beildeis swaill afoir expremit 1559 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 129.
Passand toward the eist to ane swall and descendand out of the said swall be the water passing and syke therof 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II 324.
At that pairt of the said Blackburne quhair thair is ane great mother swayll on the south syde of the said Blackburne 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II 324.
Hauldand vp the said burne to the roche swaill of Kynmvndie 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II 326.
And thairfra doun the said northsyd of the great swayll to ane great stryip callit the Bantstickill burne 1640 Philorth Baron Ct. I 72a.
In the heid of the reid suaill(b) 1630 Moray Synod 25.
Ane dead bairne found being cast into ane sveill(c) 1601 Reg. Great S. 391/2.
Passand … be the eist syid of ane arne or aller bus in the lin or suald of Schirestoun