Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1788, 1887-1928
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‡GELL, v.1 Also geal, geel, geil, gale, gail. To tingle, to smart, ache with pain or cold (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1825 Jam., gail, gale, ‡1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh.11, Cai.7 1954, geil). Vbl.n. gealin', geelan, “the smarting of a sore, or of the skin in frosty weather” (Cai. 1940 John o' Groat Jnl. (15 March)). Also in n.Eng. dial. [gɛl, geil, gel]Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 49:
The growlan fish wives hoise their creels, Set a' their banes a-gelling.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 172:
I'll wadd the hurdies of ane of them at least gelled for the rest of that nicht.Cai.1 1928:
Me throt's gealin: A can hardly heauch.
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"Gell v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gell_v1>
