Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1701-1737, 1811-1988
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CANGLE, Kangl, v. and n. [kɑŋl, kjɑŋl (Kcb.9)]
1. v. “To dispute; to contend in argument; to wrangle; to altercate” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., kangl; Bnff.2 1938; Abd.7 1925; Fif.10, Lnl.1, Kcb.1 1938); “to cavil” (Mearns 1825 Jam.2). Ppl.adj. canglin', quarrelsome; vbl.n. cangling, dispute, dissension.Sc. 1701–1731 R. Wodrow Analecta (Maitland Club 1843) III. 355:
The Lady applyes to the Commission . . . to determine whither her not hearing her former minister . . . was a ground for debarring her from the sacrement. This brought in great cangling.Sc. 1737 Ramsay Proverbs 77:
Ye cangle about uncoft Kids.Bnff. 1872 Bnffsh. Jnl. (30 Jan.):
But hame whaur canglin' strife prevails, Is nae a hame deserves the name.Slg. a.1875 R. Buchanan in Harp of Stirlingsh. (ed. W. Harvey 1897) 225:
This clan is up, anither's doon, a third is deep in wrangle, Till bearded men are like to fecht, and owre a hair-breadth cangle.m.Lth. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 17:
I coudna live sae wi' my wife In constant cangling, gloom, and strife!Lnk. 1919 G. Rae 'Tween Clyde and Tweed 70:
I was a herd, nae man e'er ca'ed me in When they were canglin' in a land oot-ower.Gall.(D) 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 138:
Efter a' wus ower they joost settl't doon an cangl't an tweelzie't like ither folk.Wgt., Kcb. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
cangle to extricate oneself by argument.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 332:
I'll fight wi' the bodie an' cangle, Till I get him laid i' the mou'd.
Hence (a) cangler, n., a quarrelsome person; (b) canglesome, adj., “quarrelsome” (Mry. 1914 R. Cairns in Bnffsh. Field Club 26).(a) Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 73:
Fy! said ae Cangler, What d'ye mean? I'll lay my Lugs on't, that he's Green.
2. n.
(1) Noise, disturbance. Cf. Cungle, n.2Sc. 1938 J. Gillespie in Border Mag. (Feb.) 30:
Whaur the scaur firs er moaning To the hill burnie's cangle.
(2) A quarrel.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 104:
We baith glowre on dairk, get roosed up, an' syne
cark, cark, cark, as gin we'd some cangle wi nicht
and cried oot: Mair licht! Mair licht!
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"Cangle v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/cangle>
