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

Virgule, Virgill, -le, n. [19th c. Eng. virgule (1837), F. virgule, L. virgula.] A thin, sloping or upright line a. Used in musical notation. b. Used in text with the same function as a comma. —a. Art of Music 1b.
The larg is ane figur of quhilk the leynth dois the bodie triplicat, havand ane virgill in the rycht part up or doun sic … The brewe is a figur with ane quadrat bodie formit with absence of the virgle Art of Music 4.
Quhat is ane paus? It is ane figur or ane virgule ower lynis and spacis transuertit hawin for ane sing of tasiturnitie missorit with artificiall sylence eftur the quantatie of ewerrie noit till it appropriat Art of Music 4b.
Gif ony virgule is to be four haill spacis transuertit ane larg twichand all the fyve lynis. That pause is of mud maior or of the larg perfyt. Of the quhilk na ws is, bot in endingis of sangis in this maner Art of Music 4b.
Gif ony virgule to the ferd lyne dois pretend that pause is of the muid minor or of the perfect long —b. 1601 Mackie Denmilne MSS 43.
Because ȝour chiffred letter man be all wretin but ony distinctioun ather of wordis or periodes as gif all war but ane word lat this be used for a virgule and this for ane periode