Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Viol, Veol, n. Also: viole, violl, vyoll. [e.m.E. vyell (Caxton), viall (a1500), vyall (a1533), viole (1560), viol (1604), violl (1611), OF viele, vielle, viole.] A viol, the musical instrument. b. A person who plays a viol.(a) 1535 Treasurer's Accounts VI 261.
To Richart Hume, Inglisman, quhilk suld mak violis to the kingis grace, to by stufe to the samin, xx li. 15.. Clariodus v 990.
All minstrellis then with instruments are gone, Both lute, harp, viole, clarcheo, and guthrone, To play into the … hall 1567 Treasurer's Accounts XII 74.
To v pagis that playis on the violis to thair abulyement xv elnis of blak to be thame clokis a1578 Pitsc. I 359/12 (I).
Trumpatis schalmes luttis and violes virginallis or pinattis and all vther kynd of instrumentis c1640 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 135.
A Cantus, being songs and fancies to three, four, or five parts, both apt for voices or viols 1649 Elgin Rec. II 266.
Alexander Glas, fidlar, compeired for drinking and playing in the night one the viol to debosched men 1650 Alyth Par. Ch. 81.
[Christian Inschiache was] cherged for selling ale … upon the Sabbath and to shaw unto the session thes persones vho ware drinking who had a violer in ther compane. [This was done, and the] wioler [who] played upon his violl … [was to be searched] 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 148.
[I thought upon] the way of guiding your fingers and bow in playing on the violl 1707 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 17.
For 2 mounth to Grisie with St. Culume on the vyoll(b) 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII 271.
Deliverit to the uthir thre that playis upoun the veolis, iij reid bonettis 1540 Treasurer's Accounts VII 334.
To iiij menstralis that playis upoun the veolis, for thair ȝerelie pensioun, pait quarterlie, ilk ane takand xl li. 1542 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 150.
To the … four playerris un the veolis for thair pensionis and fee of the Ȝule and Candilmes termes, havand ilk ane of thame at the terme x li.; summa lxxx li. 1542 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 149.
Deliverit to be x coittis and x pair of hois to the four playerris un the veolis, four trumpettis of ware, and twa taburnerris, xxxij elnis dimmegraneb. 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VII 118.
[Similar liveries in red and yellow to] the foure veolis and twa Toddeis