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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
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Trava(i)l(l, Trawail(l, Travel(l, v. Also: trava(i)le, -ael, -(e)ile, -il(l, trawa(i)le, -al, -el(l, -(e)il(l, traivel(l, trayvel(l, traffil(l, trevel(l. P.t. also travaleht. [ME and e.m.E. trauaile(n (c1250), trava(i)l(l (all Cursor M.), traueyle(n, trauayle(n (both Manning), travel(en (Wyclif), travell (1559), OF travaill(i)er, -veill(i)er.]

I. 1. tr. To harass, torment, vex; to trouble, bother; to cause difficulty; ? to exhaust. 1375 Barb. vi 602 (C).
He thoucht … Thai mycht hym trawale and tary … Till the remanand suld cum a1400 Leg. S. xv 112.
Thymone the fel fewire sa Trawalyt that he mycht nocht ga ?1438 Alex. i 3140.
Quhill all thair hors wor sa wery, For thay war trauelit [F. soffrir] gretumly c1400 Troy-bk. i 429.
Scho wald rase wedderis one thame … That suld thame contrary so fast And trawaile so dispituisly, That all suld peryse c1420 Ratis R. 1287.
Scho is ȝong … And can nocht weill enchew the scaith … And be scho trawalyt, scho is schent c1420 Wynt. v 1464.
To … ken quhat malady … Trawalyd hys wyff c1460 Regim. Princ. 98 (Marchm.).
The riale majeste Suld neuir be traualit bot in materis hee a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 34.
Tuglit and travalit thus trew men can tyre c1475 Wall. ix 365.
With waist wordis I will nocht yow trawaill 14… Edinb. Univ. MS La.ii.318.
On sic men he (the feynd) has power To travale thaim & greif thaim here 1573 Cath. Tr. 3/5.
Wordes craftelie … coloret … to impesche and trauel men of gude ingyne … to cum to the vnderstanding of the veritie 1594 Misc. Bann. C. III 170.
Being sair trauellit and weryit for fault of meit & refresching, and laiking of sleip(b) 1533 Boece 244.
Britouns of quham maist parte traffillit in bog and slyke deiectit in corage … war … slane

2. intr. To exert oneself, to toil, labour, work; to struggle (in (at), to do that), for (something)). Also reflex.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 72.
He trawalyt sa That he ne mycht rest nycht na day, Til he cane hyr wil assay c1400 Troy-bk. ii 256 (D).
If that it so be … We trawaile in wayne c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 70.
Trauaile 1460 Hay Alex. 2526.
Men of eild … ar ouir … febile till indure, To walk the ward, to travell and labure c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. vi 28.
Behald ye the lillies of the feelde, how thai wax: thai trauale nocht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1707.
Lyke besy beis vpone the flouris, Or emottis trauelling in to June 1575 Misc. Maitl. C. I 115.
Concernyng the caus of wanting of preaching … I have travellit according to my promes as habilitie of body servit 1622-6 Bisset I 161/32.
Procuratouris suld be … men quha hes procured, and travelled befoir inferiour iudges, the full space of thrie ȝeiris(b) 1375 Barb. iii 278.
Cesar the worthy That traweillyt ay so besyly c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 12.
In October Mr. Patrik Sands going to traveile in attendance of the Lord Neubotle(c) 1575–6 Waus Corr. 541.
Ye subscryfand this letir, the Lard sall geif you ane wdir of his that ye, trawilland acordyng to your former letir [etc.](2) a1400 Leg. S. xl 164.
He thane went hamwarte, For to trawale in Goddis ȝarde c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 111.
Thai that trawalys in the artykle of ded 1533 Bell. Livy I 72/14.
This … prince mycht nocht suffir his pepill to rest … in sleuth … he traistit that his pepill suld haue bettir heill … quhen thai war travellit in thare werelie campis than quhen thai war solpit at hame 1564–5 Breadalbane Lett. No. 30.
Me lord and his fryndis hes trawalitt in ȝour efferis als fas as thay mycht ȝe beand absentt 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 43.
They ar sa notablie knawin to all chirurgianis that I trauaill na thing in formal prescryuing of the samin [sc. medicine] 1593 Mining Rec. 99.
Thomas … hes brocht within this realme certane strangearis to trauell in the mynes and mettallis heirin 1597 Old Ross-shire I 28.
Robert Munro … [is] apt and able to serve … and willing to travell as of befour tharintill a1599 Rollock Wks. I 338.
I made thee ane minister, how travellit thou in that vocation? 1600-1610 Melvill 49.
Mr. Andro … sett him … to teatche things nocht hard in this countrey of befor, wherin he travelit exceiding diligentlie 1610 Brechin Test. II 89 b.
To Hendre Lyell man servand quha trawellit at his bot for his fie xvi lib. c1630 Scot Narr. 44.
The ecclesiasticall policie, long travelled in and hoped for a1651 Calderwood IV 316.
Speare what Sanct Paul meaneth, when he affirmeth that the elder that travelleth in the Word is worthie of double honour(3) 1375 Barb. i 97.
How at that king … Trawayllyt for to wyn senȝhory 1375 Barb. ii 574.
James off Dowglas Ay trawailland and besy was For to purches [etc.](b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 246.
Thane gert he divynouris bryng … & prayt thaim … That thai wald trawale … Of his douchtir to get wityng(c) 1560 Aberd. B. Rec. MS XXIV (Jam.).
To help him to ane craym, that he may trawell to win his lifing in the cuntray 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vi 806.
Virtutem extendere factis, to trawell to wine glorie 1590 Digest Justiciary Proc. M 29.
He … trawellit to be cureit be hir develleische incantationis(d) 1398–9 Acts I 210/2.
The kynge for seknes … may nocht trauail to gouerne the realme 1456 Hay II 85/26.
All princis suld laboure and travail here to … wyn gude renoun 1558-66 Knox I 109.
To travaill … that the Governour mycht be called back to his formar godly purpoise(e) ?1438 Alex. ii Colophon 12.
Traualit 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 542.
The Queen of Scotland travaleht earniestlie to have a treatis intitilled ‘The first blast of the Trompett’ confuted(f) ?1438 Alex. i 3294.
The leich trauelled bisselly To haill thame tua that woundit were 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 88 n.
You shall travell as earnestly as ye may to have this treux concluded 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 7.
His grace sall travell to haif the same act explanit and maid cleir 1587-99 Hume 169/50.
Since the reformatioun … The kirk hath ever bene traveling to haif vote in parliament 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 252.
That be … wichcraft, ye travellit to stay … the mariage of the laird of Punfrastoune 1593 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 798.
To crave and travel that the samyn may be grantit 1600-1610 Melvill 4.
To visit … these kirks, and travell to draw the peiple's harts togidder … and aggrie upon a pastour 1640 Boyd Lett. Comf. 8.
I doubt not but you will travell humbly to submit yourself to Gods will(g) 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 548.
The noblemen … ernistlie travilling be inquisitioun and vtherwise to haue the said murther tryit 1615 Bk. Islay 268.
Travill(4) c1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 20.
Gyf yhe do in the contrarie … we ar litill haldyn to … trauaill for any thynge that langes yhowe 1456 Hay I 239/18.
Thai travaile … for the commoun prouffit of every man c1490 Porteous Noblenes 177/18 (A).
Tham that … travalis bot for wynnyng of gudis 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I 224.
Rather to study how the sam may be brought to pas, then vainly to travael for the manteanaunce of that wherof allreaddy we have sein the daunger 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 136.
It hes plesit the princes … to send thair ambassadouris … to travell for ane … perfyte pacificatioun 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 245.
I have travailed for a secret meeting betwixt the two parties here 1615 Highland P. III 232.
He was bowne to Ila to travell for releif of the pledgeis(b) 1570 Leslie 66.
Petir traivellit be all meanes possible at King James handis for concorde and peace to be madereflex. ?1438 Alex. ii 9143.
Gaudefeir him traualed ay For to fulfill the avow he hecht

b. To exert oneself, use one's influence with (a person) or betwene (persons); to work with; to bargain, negotiate with (for a purpose). 1561 Facs. Nat. MSS III xlv.
She myndeht to trauall with your grace … and learned men for judgement against such a common ennemey to women 1558-66 Knox I 16.
Thei travailled with the king … that he should pass in pilgramaige to Sanct Dothes 1574 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 329.
The said Mr. James and Mr. David to travell with Mr. Andrew Polwart … for correcting of the said Bible a1585 Maitl. Q. 73/65.
That na man wald … Displeis thair nichtbouris … Dame Kyndnes ay sa travelit thame betwene 1593 Conv. Burghs I 407.
To trauell earnestlie with the said Johnne Arnold for obtenyng fra him of the said ground 1603 Moysie 36.
The diuk trauellit and effectuat with the king the making of Mr. Robert Mongomerie minister of Sterling 1609 Bk. Dunvegan 48.
That the saidis parteis … maye deill and travell with his majestie for [etc.] 1611 Buchan Cl. IV 193.
Travile 1620 Stirling B. Rec. I 153.
That the prothocoll buikis … salbe travellit and delt for with maister Alexander Hay(b) 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I 143.
Treuellit

c. tr. To labour, work at (a charge), to perform (a task, duty); to negotiate (an agreement). 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 673.
The precheouris and utheris travelling the charge of ministerie within the kirk of God 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XII 25.
Mr. Colville … is employed to travail the allia[nce] betwixt him and the duke but I fear the duke will not consent

3. intr. To experience labour in the birth of a child. Also in fig. context or perhaps a further example of 1 above. b. tr. Of childbirth: To cause (a woman) labour. a1400 Leg. S. ii 717.
A womane with barne traweland 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579) 167.
Parturio … to trauell with chylde 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 396.
The Countes of Buchane, uha than wes travelland with chyld 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 198.
[A person] then travilland of hir birth 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
Sick payneis as scho wes wount to teik, quhen scho trauellit with chyld, quhilk payne lestit the space of sex dayis 1633 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 545.
Ane powr woman that was travelling off chyld 1639 Johnston Diary I 406.
My wyfe … travailed and … was lighter of a son 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 232.
Tramontaines … put bread, [etc.] … in womens bed when travelling, to save them [sc. newborn babies] from being thus stolenfig. 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 42.
My awin children … Thir mony ȝeiris thay haue me disconfortit, I trauell ȝit, as I had thame aduortitb. c1420 Wynt. vi 494.
Hyr chyld-ill all suddanly Travalyd hyr

II. 4. intr. To travel, journey, to make a journey; to move (about), to go; to rove.Past continuous is also const. the verb to be.Some examples may belong in 1 above.pres. 1375 Barb. i 325.
In hart has tane That he wald trawaile our the se a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 35.
As this knycht trawaland ves, Sa hapnyt hyme … In-to the prowince of Lyby c1420 Wynt. vii 2732.
Alysandyr Kyng off Scotland Wes throwcht the kynryk traveland Haldand courtys 1425 Acts II 10/1.
Trauelande a1540 Freiris Berw. 39 (M).
For he wes awld and micht nocht wele travell c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 41.
Quhen thay trauell throw the townis, Men seis thare feit beneth thare gownis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1920.
Thare dar no merchand tak on hand, To trauell nother be sey nor land 1562 Inverness Rec. I 72.
That tha sall trawell alandwart and by thair greth 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 418.
To Johnie Calder, Bute pursevant, and Gawin Ramsay … remanand, awaitand and travaland in the … quenis effaris 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 63.
The said schereff (being … sua corpolent as he mycht nocht travell) directit and send … his depute 1591–2 Reg. Privy C. IV 713.
There are sundry persons … travellis and rydis ouer all pairtis of this realme with thair faceis coverit 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 49b.
They quha travellis as ketharans … consumand the gudes of the inhabitants 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 268.
The dead off the yieir, maist difficill and hard to onye man to trauell 1649 Elgin Rec. II 433.
He salbe travelling from class to classe to obserw the diligence … of the examinators(b) 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 650/2.
Thir haill pairtes ar sa lows that na man may traivell without he be upon his gardep.t. 1375 Barb. vi 27 (C).
The king … Travalit in Carrik heir and thair 1388–9 Charter (Reg. H.) Suppl. (29 Jan.).
With the qwilkes lettres the said John trauaillit to the castell of Caldore c1400 Elgin Rec. I 14.
One twa handis and a kne To the hye altere trawalyt he c1420 Wynt. v 5104.
Brandane … Travalyd on se fra ile tyll ile c1420 Wynt. vi 1644 (W).
Him self with bow and with brachet, Fra slak to slak, oure hill and hicht, Travalit all day c1475 Wall. vii 604.
In that forest … thai taryit nocht, On fresche hors to Bothwell sone thai socht … Forfouchtyn thai war and trawald all the nycht 1576 Orkney Oppress. 66.
The inhabitaris of Zetland, quha had schippis of thair awin, and travalit thairwith to Noroway 1596 Dalr. I 236/33.
His marrow … quhair evir he trauelit, bure him cumpanie in al his jornayes throuch Scotland(b) 1570 Leslie 142.
He trayvellit to Venicep.p. c1420 Wynt. viii 5249.
Patrik the Grame, That had trawellyd beyhond the se c1475 Wall. ix 1780.
Rycht mony hors, at ronnyng had so lang, And trawalyt sayr, thai mycht no forthir gang

b. tr. To travel (a distance, route throwch a place, etc.). Also reflex. Also fig. 1533 Boece 434b.
The king with his armye travellit ane huly pais 1564 Craven Argyll Diocese 9.
The Iles can nocht be travellit wele throwch in wynter 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 341 (5 Sept.).
Certaine … alledgit thieves travelling the roadreflex. 1456 Hay II 122/25.
Or thou ete or drink, travaill thé sum thing, outhir on fut or on horsfig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 393.
Our … empty dreams … are no farther travelled than up and down the noughty and feckless creatures

c. To travel on (someone's business). 1566 Treas. Acc. XII 13.
The expensis debursit upoun officiaris, boyis and uthiris travaland the king and quenis grace effaris