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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cule, Cuil(e, v. Also: cuill, cuyl(e, cuyll, kuil, cull. [ME. coole, cole, OE. cólian to become cold.]

1. intr. To become cold or cool. 1456 Hay II. 138/34.
The gude water … sone will be hate and sone cule agayne to the propre kynde a1500 Seven S. 1103.
Thow art our hait, And thow will cule and thow stand thare a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 9.
Lordis lattis thair kitchingis cule, And drawis them to the abbay 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xiii.
Except with me that ye remain, For feir my corps will cule 1600-1610 Melvill 139.
A deadlie hat fiver, (wharout of sche haid cullit with a bleding excessive) 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. .
He that hath many irones in the fyre some will cule

b. fig. Of love, courage, etc.: To become less fervent or strong. 1492 Myll Spect. 276/1.
And thar gudis faill, thair luf within schort tyme sall cule a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. cxxxi. 7.
My cair may neuer cule Becaus I seruit mouth thankles 1531 Bell. Boece II. 492.
The gret fervour of weris began to cule betwix Inglismen and Scottis 1535 Stewart 15885.
His confort culit and his curage fell 1567 Sat. P. iv. 29.
Hir licherous luife, quhilk kindlit ouer hait, Cauld hes it cuild 1596 Dalr. II. 82/16.
That the men of weir mycht … cuil nocht in thair corage

2. tr. To make cold or cool; to appease or gratify with coolness. 1456 Hay II. 123/36.
It war gude to drink … water … to cule and clenge the stomak Ib. 144/1.
Quhill he be wele culit of his grete hete a1500 Henr. Fab. 2614.
Ane selie lamb … in the streme laipit to cule his thrist c1475 Wall. x. 428.
The cler watter culyt the hors sumdeill c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 509.
Than culit thai thair mouthis with confortable drinkis 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 43.
He held doun swymmand the cleir ryver streme, To cuyll hys heyt vnder a gresy bra 1535 Stewart 29691.
Vter drank for to cuill his thrist 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5673.
This herb … is richt wonder gude To cuill feuer 1567 G. Ball. 41.
Send Lazarus, his finger for to weit, And cule my tung 1587-99 Hume iii. 142.
The callowr wine in caue is sought, Mens brothing breists to cule

b. fig. To mitigate, assuage, lessen, reduce (passion, desire, etc.). c1420 Wynt. ii. 1488.
Sum men thai gert sauffyd be In tyme to cule [C. cuyl] thare qualyte ?1438 Alex. i. 2801.
Bot thow art culit now ane party! Thy pryde thé failȝeis foullely 1456 Hay I. 132/18.
I may in that chaudecole tak it agayn … Bot, and I byde quhill I be culit, I may nocht do it a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 491.
Na thing mycht cule the hatrent of thair hert 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2574.
His foule lust on na wayis he culd cule 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 114.
That shot hes cuillit our curage 1596 Dalr. I. 197/8.
The crueltie of the Legat was assuaget & kuilet Ib. II. 180/13.
Althoch thair luue was cuilet