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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.

(Victuall,) Victual, Vit(t)al(l, v. (ppl. adj.). Also: wictail(l, -ual(l, vittaill, wittal(l)(e, -ail(l, -el, vyttaill, -ayle, wyttal, vytayle, wytayl(l. P.p. also wittulyt, victu(a)lat, wictillit. [ME and e.m.E. vytail(en (14th c.), vitele(n (Wyclif), victaile (1485), victalle (1534), vittell (1572), victuall (1583), vittaile (1622), OF vitailler, vit-, victuailler.] tr. To supply (an army, stronghold, vessel, country, etc.) with victual. Also, weill (ewill) wittalit, well (badly) supplied with victual. b. ppl. adj. Produced as victual, used as provisions.(1) pres. 1489 Treas. Acc. I 129.
Eftir at the kingis schip wes chaysit in Dumbertane be the Inglismen and tynt hir cabillis and odir grayth, sende with Johne of Haw to vittall hir and beyt hir grayth that wantit, xviij li. 1494 Deidis of Armorie 2.
The capitanys war ordanit be princis to keip the fortrassis & gud townys of the princis and to vittall thaim and garnys thaim of al necessar thingis 1542–3 Acts II 417/1.
Ony baroun of the kingis may wittale and furnis his housis and castellis 1547 Douglas Corr. 165.
Jedworth … is able to receave and also vytayle us 1547 Douglas Corr. 165.
Vyttayle 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II 327.
[Mar is] witteling [the castle and will not deliver him](b) 1497 Treas. Acc. I 382.
For viij bollis of mele, to wictail tua botis with … iiij li.p.t. 1375 Barb. xv 263.
The castell tuk he in his hand And wyttalyt [C. wittalit it] weill c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1102.
Vittaillit he thar fortres, And swoir he suld that place defend(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 281/23.
The lordis of Edinburgh had gart man sindrie placeis … as Nethrie ane place of my lord Settounis and wictualed it verray weillp.p. 1375 Barb. iii 339.
For thaim thocht thai mycht sekyrly Duell thar quhill thai war wittaillit [C. wictaillit] weile 1375 Barb. iv 63.
[The] castell weill wittalyt [C. vittalit] [thai] And mete and fuell gan puruay c1420 Wynt. ii 1586.
Eneas gert twelff schyppys be Wytayllyde [C. Wittulyt, W. wittalit] and layde to the se c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xii 20.
Thai askit pece for alsmekile that thare cuntreis war vitalit of him 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 266.
I pray you advertys me and how yow thinke best ther [sc. 1000 men's] sarvyce should be ymployd … and how in your opynyon they may be vyttaillyd c1610 Melville Mem. 79.
What gret charges it is till fournisch out schippis, quhilkis parchance may be thryse vitallit before they mak saill 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 155.
They have biggit ane new forthe in ane logh whiche they haue manit and victulat [Melrose P. 167, victualat](2) a1578 Pitsc. I 228/2.
The king of Ingland … gart provyde the captane Stewin Bull thrie greit scheipis weill man steid, weill wittallit and artaillȝeit a1578 Pitsc. I 332/5.
He was ewill wictillit and wantit artaillȝe pulder and bullattisb. 1668 Lauder Jrnl. 190.
Whithill, Easter Dudinstone … Its 60 chalder of wictuallat beir and wheat ever accompted the finest thing about Edenburgh