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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Travail(l)(e, Trawa(i)l(l)(e, Travel(l, Trawel(l, n. Also: travale, -all, -ay(h)le, -eil, trawayl(l)e, -ele, -ill, traivail(l, -el(l, traiwel(l, trayvel, trevall, -ell, trewell; (trvael(l)); travailȝie, trawailȝe. Pl. also travellace. [ME and e.m.E. trauail (c1250), trauaill, trauayle; trauaile, trauale, traueil (all Cursor M.), trauel (c1400), traualle (1422), trauyll (a1533), trauell (1584), OF travail.]

I. 1. Hardship, suffering; trouble, difficulties arising from circumstances or events. Also pl.(a) 1375 Barb. i 23.
Stalwart folk that lywyt ar … And led thar lyff in gret trawaill a1400 Leg. S. ii 935.
Trawel a1400 Leg. S. ix 64.
Angelis are ay hyme by, That tholis hyme nocht be wery … Na gret trawale neuire he wyste a1400 Leg. S. l 832.
[He] giffis lyf, that ma nocht fale, To his luffers for thare trawalle ?1438 Alex. i 1479.
Thare price and thare worthynes Gart thame endure trauale and pane c1420 Wynt. iv 995.
All his futmen and archerys … For dowte hungyr and trawaylle, Begowth … to faylle c1475 Wall. x 703.
Feill Scottis hors was drewyn in to trawaill 1490 Irland Mir. I 159/16.
He maid ws without pane; without travale He boght ws 1513 Doug. v xiii 16.
Now wald thai wend, for all the seys rage, Reddy to thoill al travale in vayage a1538 Abell 22b.
This present trawail as it is contrarius to me [etc.] 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 3.
Sen it hes plesit … God … that this present plaig … be laitlie enterit in this realme it becummis everie one … to be maist curagius in suffering of trauail … for … the commoun weilth(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 2482.
Rycht as I haue greter gouernall I haue mare charge vexatioun and travell a1500 Lanc. 273.
The sufferans that by Louis wounde He in his trawel sufferith auer more 1535 Stewart 12571.
How gude Galdus had sufferit so lang Trubill and travell c1552 Lynd. Mon. 543.
Tyll vnlernit I wald the cause wer kend Off our most miserabyll trauell 1565 Wemyss Chart. 199.
Johnne Wemys … to be seiklie in his persoun, and nocht abill to sustene the pyne and travell of the weiris 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. i 291.
Indurati malis, hardnit with travell 1596 Dalr. I 273/10.
Harrukie … eftir sair trauel and truble, cumer, kair and mony meruellous vexatiounis patientlie … susteinet … receiues the bishoprie of Verden(c) ?1438 Alex. ii 5639.
My body of pane and of trauailȝie [: vailȝe] Mon charged bepl. 1375 Barb. i 306.
Hard trawalys and barganyngis c1420 Ratis R. 743.
Thai trawalys sal thé think ful suet 1456 Hay I 297/17.
For ane honour thare is a hunder paynis and travailis 1456 Hay I 301/20.
He may not dure langsumly in the travailis of weris 1567 Acts III 12/1.
We ar not of habilitie … to indure sa greit and intollerabill panis, and trauellis a1651 Calderwood IV 95.
What travells and importable burthens we have borne(b) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 255/502.
Putt ende unto the traiuaillis lorde & miseries of Thy [sancts]

2. Physical or mental effort, exertion, toil or labour in carrying out a task; freq. (a job of) work commanding a reward or recompense. Also pl.(a) 1375 Barb. xii 123.
Thai that caus has mad With gret trauaill and hard fechting 1456 Hay II 125/10.
With the corporale laboure and travaille of his membris(b) 1424 Acts II 8/2.
The wrangar sall assyth … the aduocatis costis & trauale c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. iii 8.
And he that planntis, and he that moistis, ar aan; and ilk sal tak his awne mede, eftire his trauale 1536 Edinb. Hammermen 146b.
Travall(c) 1394–5 Liber Aberbr. II 43.
Willam sal half … a stane of ilke hyndyr that he fynys til his trauel 1455 Acts II 43/1.
The said arestour … sall haif x li. for his travell 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1123.
Ȝe thre my trypes sall haue, for ȝour trauell 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 199.
We have labored be all meanis to have reduced the said Johan to hear the voce of the kyrk … and fyndis our travell as yit to tak non effect 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. iii 160.
Longumque … ne linque laborum, tyre not of long travell a1585 Maitland in Maitl. Q. 23/80.
Think weill warit the tyme thow hes done spend And the travell that thow hes done sustein 1600 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 114.
Sic sall be caused to learn the Lordes prayer, … quhilk travell also the session will acknowledge and recompense 1620 Ellon Presb. 104.
Effer lang and advysit travells they estimate the same at aucht scoir ten marks 1622-6 Bisset II 68/7.
And for there travell salhave twelf pennyis of everie pund(d) c1420 Wynt. ii 1235.
Trawaille c1420 Wynt. vi 1967.
Tymbyr thare-till to drawe … Off Fyfe … he Gert mony oxin gadryd be Sa on a day in thare trawaile A yhok off oxyn Makbeth saw fayle(e) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1157.
I coniure ȝou … That yhe for na trawall be irke To bere my body to sume kirk c1500 Makc. MS xiv 11.
Tak hed to ws thingis thre, Temperat dyat, temperat trawall [etc.](f) a1400 Leg. S. ii 658.
This Senek … For his trawell asskit reward c1563 Reg. Panmure I xxxvi.
Them quha knawes the grownd and trawel of faukoners 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 197.
Some … by whose trawell and mediation the Earle of Southerland refrained his army(g) 1561 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 342.
Trawill 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 76.
The trawill off the minister amongst the pipell is almost lost giff he tak not graitt paines vpon the ignoranttis(h) 1375 Barb. iii 298.
Giff it fall he tharoff failȝe The fawt may be in his trawailȝepl. 1456 Hay I 274/5.
All expens and travailis of parties 1456 Hay II 130/16.
Kepe thé than fra grete travalis that hetis mekle 1515 Treas. Acc. V 23.
To Mark Swyntoun for his trawellis in the furnissing of the said place 1559 Reg. Privy S. V i 144/1.
In recompensatioun of the travellis, panis, and chargeis sustenit 1584 Glasgow Burgesses 14.
William Bogle … for certain extraordinary travellace taken by him for the town 1588–9 Crail B. Ct. MS 22 Feb.
[The provost desires] to mak peax … and be his travellis guidvill counsall and assistance to mantein and defend the saming 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 582.
[I received … her Majesty's] placard [thanking you for your] liberall travells 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 369.
To John Bryce [etc.] … in consideratioun of thair guid serveice and continuall travellis for the space of sewin weikis 1623 Melrose P. 516.
He … played the pioner to tow in the shipp within the harbrie, whiche no travells then used being able to accomplishe … [etc.] 1628 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 118.
Recommendit themeselffes and thair scollers unto God and craived his blissing to thair travellis 1631 Strathbogie Presb. 3.
Mr. William Massie handlit the controversie … His travells allowed(b) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 191/1.
The treasoris gatherid by the paines & neggairte traiuuellis sore of thaire forbearis 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 195/767.
Quhairin … I haue preast to makke the autoure knouin [etc.] Yett aucht thou iustlie … lyke my painful traiuellis

b. Const. to do, in doing (something), for (a purpose). Also pl.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 436.
Quhan that the duke sawe his trauaill To get succour micht nocht availl [etc.] 1533 Boece 90.
He suld refuse na laubouris nor travell in hoisting c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1451.
He spairit na coist, nor ȝit trauaill [: haill] To preif his practikis 1567–8 Elgin Rec. I 41.
In your predicessouris tymes we had na forder cummer nor travaill bot onlie to mak payment at hame … quhilk is far utherwys now, and drawis ws yeirlie to grete cummer and travaill to compeir yeirlie in the chakker 1590 Edinb. Test. XII 154a.
To Issobelle Lyndesay for hir trauell and panis in his visitatioun and seiknes 1590 St. A. B. Ct. 18 Sept.
Employit sic moyen and trawell for his defens as lay in his powar c1590 Fowler II 90/7.
It sal be … sma travell to a vyse … prence … to entertayne [etc.] 1657 Dumfries Council Min. MS 2 Nov.
He sall imploy his paines travell and indeavors … for his s[ai]d m[aste]rs advantage ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadful Alarms 6.
Ye may be at meikle pains and travel to hear a preaching(b) 1596 Dalr. I 89/14.
Thair kair and trayuel was hail in this to sustein thayr bodyespl. 1578–9 Perth Kirk S. MS 12 Jan.
Jhone Suentoun … had greatt travaillis in teaching of the ȝoutheid of this toun 1589–90 Wodrow's Life of Bruce 20.
The good report I haue … of your daily travels for that effect 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 135.
It becomes us … to imploy our travails, in incalling for His Haly Spirit

c. Const. particular verbs: Mak, put, spare, tak, tyne. Also in the consts. illustrated in b above. Also pl. 1375 Barb. vii 45.
We haiff tynt this trawaill. To pas forthyr may nocht awaile … Tharfor is gud we … waist no mar trawaill in wayne a1400 Leg. S. iii 752.
Thai mycht nocht tweche hym … Bot tynte thare trawel c1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
Efter the besynes trauaile and coste that we made c1420 Ratis R. 1810.
Tyll his blis his saul mote bringe, That trawall tuk of this treting c1420 Wynt. vii 2772.
For cost … he sparyd noucht, Na for trawell, quhill thai war browcht Till … jugement c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 461.
Al the fulys lawbor is bot tynt trawell c1475 Wall. vi 672.
We may thaim wyne, and mak bot lycht trawaill 1490 Irland Mir. I 26/23.
Consider … quha is thi fader, and put pane, lauboure, and trawale to be lik to him c1490 Irland Asl. MS 63/29.
He that … makis laubour & travall to big ane palace c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4446.
Thay gan to be negligent … And tuke … far les trauell in thare techeing 1567 G. Ball. 102.
I tuke trauell on this to knaw the treuth 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 84.
Thai maid na trawell nor persuit aganis him sa lang as he was in the cuntrey 1570 Sat. P. x 32.
We brocht him vp, as our deir sone and air And he to serue vs na traueil did spair c1630 Scot Narr. 154.
Much travell was taken to perswade [etc.] c1650 Spalding I 134.
The toun of Abirdein … began to chooss … officiares for dreilling of thair men … bot thay tynt thair travell(b) 1561 Waus Corr. 29.
I pray yow … that ye will tak sua far trevell as to be with me [etc.] 1648 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 87.
Trevallpl. 1472 Lennox Mun. 86.
Lord Dernlee has … maid hugis expensis … and trauellys for the optenyng … of the erldome 1572 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 259.
The long and fructfull travells made in the Kirk … be vmquhile John Knox 1573 Grant Chart. 153.
Johnne Grant … hes maid gritt travellis, coistis and expensis vpoun the dyking [etc.] 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 572.
Trvaellis 1580 Misc. Bann. C. II 206.
To Alexander Barclay … for his … mediceins, and paines and trawillis takkin on the defunct the tyme of his seiknes, xl s. 1608 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1057.
Keipers of the rolls … have made travells … for obtaining of the saids scrowis

3. A specific effort, a particular struggle; an object of struggle, a purpose. 1375 Barb. iv 664.
Fele anoyis thole ȝe sall Or that ȝour purpos end haiff tane … My twa sonnys with ȝow sall I Send to tak part of ȝour trawaill [C. trawell] a1400 Leg. S. xviii 132.
Ilke monk … askyt his benysone That thai mycht, thru his helpe, fulfil The trawele that thai set thame til c1475 Wall. vi 862.
Erll off Stamffurd … this trawaill tuk on hand, To procur pes c1475 Wall. viii 1131.
To help this land I wald mak my trawaill 1584 Waus Corr. 305.
I wuld … your lordschip sould send … the inhibition … that I may haive ane vther summondis execute thairvpone … I wald glaidlie mak ane travell of all for I think my selff very unthankfullie handillit 1590 Warrender P. (SHS) II 140.
Let your chief travell be that a league … be firmelye promitted [etc.]

4. The result or outcome of effort, specif. the deliberations of commissioners of the Church of Scotland on particular matters. Only pl. c1630 Scot Narr. 41.
To meet … to conferr their whole travells and to report to the nixt Assembly. In October … some brethren were appointed to revise their travells, conferr upon things already penned, and [etc.] a1650 Row 16.
The Assemblie … laid some heads of the policie of the Kirk upon everie man who wes thought meetest for the same; and after they had given in their travells, to be considered by the brethren, they were either approven in that whilk they had done, or els their inlaiks were supplied … that they might sett doune the head appoynted to them more perfitelie a1651 Calderwood III 374.
The brethrein … to report their judgement formallie, in writt … wherin some travells have beene takin by the brethrein, and something penned

5. Sickness, distress associated with sickness or disease. Also pl.Wisd. Sol. quot. may belong in 1. a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 396.
Hyre he [sc. a friend] can saile With felone feuere & gret trawale, That mad hyre sa falow & fade c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 222.
Bettir is ane handfull with rest and pes, na baith the handis full with trauell and dyses 1644 Justiciary Cases III 650.
The defunct his seiknes was caused be … the indispositione of his bodie from his birthe, and … it was ane universall travell or sutche lyk ane deseasepl. 1456 Hay II 131/16.
That thai ete nathing that engenderis malancoly or grete travailis of body

6. The labour of childbirth, esp. in travell. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 2.
Scho keipit hir thair till the tyme of hir travell of childe 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 54.
Wemene … in travell of thair chyld-bed-lare 1643 Inverurie 307.
It was lyke the sickness of a woman in traivell 1661 S. Ronaldshay 36.
Before midnight [she] was in travell, and early in the morning brought forth twinnes 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 9 Oct.
Asked if she had questioned her in travell who was her childes father? 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 9 Oct.
Asked who was present at her travell? 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 62.
Several other charms also they have … [for] women in travel

II. 7. An act of travelling, journeying, (a) journey. Also pl.(a) 1375 Barb. iv 48.
The queyn & als dame Mariory … ar ridin … Throw Ros [etc.] … Bot that trawaill thai maid in wayne [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1261.
Syne … sperit he The cause quhy of sa fere cuntre That thai come thar … The cause of this trawall [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2479.
Pirrus, all wery for trawale, Come to the lond c1420 Wynt. i 733.
Quhen thai trawaill owcht in fere Thai wyll wyth thame that appyll bere To be thare mete in thare trawaylle c1420 Wynt. ii 1402.
The Sytykys than wytht playne batayle Maid throwcht Asy thare trawayle c1420 Wynt. v 2196.
Travayhle 1427 Indenture Crown Office Writs No. 40 (Reg. H.).
Gyf it hapnys me … to disces in trawal scort or lang 1456 Hay II 6/23.
The said squier quhilk was ferr travailit, for irknes of travale … slepit apon his palfray c1475 Wall. iii 351.
Wallace weille coude nocht in Corsby ly, Hym had leuir in trauaill for to be 1516 Acts XII 37/1.
And swa he has takin travale, has cvmmyn [pr. eũmyn] in thir partis [etc.] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 860.
Out throw Straitherne the squyer past And … efter his greit trauaill, He purpoisit him to repois 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii 372.
The eight day … he succumb'd, and could not subsist, not beeing vsed to pedestriall trauayle(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 578.
The prince … tuke the destreir, And langald him … That in travell he suld nocht hurt … And send sua to the king of Macedone a1500 Sir Eger 660.
I bade him let his journey be, Make not this travel all for me 1533 Boece 40.
Eftir lang … travell made throw Sarmathia and Germanye 1533 Bell. Livy I 283/9.
The army beand thus weill arrayit, na les to travell [B. trewell] and iornay than to batell a1540 Freiris Berw. 39 (M).
Thai purpost till pas hame Richt weirie was and tyrit freyr Allane For he was auld and micht nocht dure the travell 1564 Craven Argyll Diocese 9.
My travell now in the Iles may do mair gude … nor my presens at the assemblie 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. viii.
Jacob hauing his head homeward from Sechem to Mambre … and within one dayes trauell to his rinks end 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 36.
God … must come down … to you, for you will never be able to come up to him, he must (to speak so) make the travelpl. c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 28.
Thomas Nicolson … an able spirit newly returned from his traveils 1625 Fugitive Poetry II v 6/97.
Where travayles reach'd, or ships could sayle