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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KELL, n., v. Also kail. Sc. variants of Eng. caul. Sc. usages:

I. n. †1. A woman's hair-net, cap or caul; the back of a woman's Mutch (Ork. 1929 Marw., s.v. fly).Sc. c.1730 John of Hazelgreen in Child Ballads No. 293 A. vii.:
A silken kell fitt for her head, Laid oer with silver sheen.Sc. 1817 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 466:
To braid her hair she didna care, Nor sett her golden kell.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlvi.:
A mutch that my wife hed ance wi' a byous muckle squar' kell.

†2. ? A net, netting.Slg. 1712 Burgh Rec. Slg. (1889) 128:
Every load of cans, kail, and made graith, imported and exported . . . 1. 0.

†3. A covering garment, a wrap; in quot. a shroud.Sc. 1802 Scott Minstrelsy II. 13:
Then up and gat her seven sisters, And sewed to her a kell, And every steek that they put in Sew'd to a silver bell.

4. An incrustation of scab, scurf or dirt on the head or face (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., Uls.³ 1930; Ayr. 1959); the grime on the face and hands of a workman; the coating of soot on a pot (Cld. 1880 Jam.). Also fig. With def. art. = ringworm (Edb. 1845 F. W. Bedford Hist. G. Heriot's Hospital (1859) 346).Rnf. a.1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1876) 362:
For your baul heid's aye covered wi kell, An your birsie beard's dreepin wi slavers.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. xxv.:
She was soon scrapit of all the scurf and kell of her abominations.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton 184:
He put his hand on his head, wondering no doubt whether he was dreaming or if he really had the “kell”.Uls. 1953 Traynor:
Wash your feet and take that kell of dirt off your shins.

II. v. Found only in ppl.adj. kellt, -ed, covered with dirt or scurf (Lnk., Ayr. 1959), begrimed, covered with soot (Ayr. 1959).Ayr.⁴ 1928:
G'wa an' wash yer neck. It's kelled.