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

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

Wheel(l)(e, Wheill, Whille, n. Also: vheell, vheill. [Varr. of Quhel(e n.] a. = Quhel(e n. 1. b. = Quhel(e n. 3 b. c. fig.Fortune's wheel. = Quhel(e n. 5. d. = Quhel(e n. 6. e. comb. Wheill spinning, the product made using a spinning-wheel; cf. Quhele spun.a. 1685 Glamis Bk. Record 86.
I bought of Nish the wheell wright … four pair of stone-cart wheells … I thought it best to retaine the money of the wheeles … and gave an obleidgement for the same accordinglyb. 1694 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 165.
For a lint whille 3 lb.c. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xx 42.
Nor fortuns fickill vheill … suld not change my hairt, Quhilk is als true as steill a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxxiii 12.
Fickle Fortun whirld me from hir vheelld. c1400 Troy-bk. i 500.
As the wheill about is wryde. 1691 Soc. Ant. LIII 57.
[A considerable quantity of tow,] heckled [or twisted lint, spinnels of linen yarn, or woollen yarn,] meckle wheill spinning, [were sold at the end of the roup]