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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

LANGLE, n., v. Also -el, -al; -ett; -let, -elt; lengel (Uls. 1929 M. Mulcaghey Ballymulcaghey 224). [′lɑŋəl, ′lɑŋə(l)t]

I. n. 1. A tether or rope, gen. with two slip-knots, used to bind two feet of an animal together to prevent it kicking or straying, a hobble (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1825 Ib., langlet, -elt; Cai. 1905 County of Cai. (Horne) 77; Cai., ne.Sc., Gall., Uls. 1960). See Lingle. Phr. †to lowse a langet, to make haste, to quicken one's pace (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 198:
It is not long since Louse bore Langett, no wonder she fall and break her Neck.Sc. 1724 Caled. Mercury (3 March):
Stolen . . . ane black docked Mare with Foal . . . one white spot on the In-side of her farder hind Leg, occasion'd by her being gall'd in the Langles.Sc. 1736 Ramsay Proverbs (1776) 82:
Ye have ay a foot out of the langle.Bnff. 1893 W. Gregor Dunbar's Wks. (S.T.S.) III. 285:
A piece of rope or leather [was] tied round the two fore-legs to prevent the animal from wandering. Sometimes a hind and a fore leg were tied. The process is called to langle in Banffshire, and the piece of rope or leather strap is called a langle.Uls. 1951 E. E. Evans Mourne Country 70:
Their [sheep's] passion for flowers and seedlings is the despair of every gardener in Mourne, for when they break their “langles” a four-foot stone wall is no obstacle to these black-faced mountaineers.

2. Fig. A long, lanky person; anything long and loose in movement.Uls. 1931 Northern Whig (28 Nov.):
In this part of County Derry the word “langel” is generally used as a term of contempt, describing an ungainly person who is long and thin, as “Ye big langel, ye,” or often, in the case of an uncomely girl, she would be described in vernacular as a “big yellow langel.”Abd. 1933 J. H. Smythe Blethers 18:
A langle o' a tongue that cu'd dae a'thing bit preach.

II. v. 1. To shackle or hobble an animal with a langle (Abd. 1825 Jam., langel, -let; Uls. 1904 Vict. Coll. Mag. 13; Ork., n.Sc., Gall., Uls. 1960); to entangle (the feet).Abd. 1748 R. Forbes Ajax 19:
For this propine to prig, That your sma' banes wou'd langel sair.Bwk. a.1760 Trans. e.Lth. Antiq. Soc. VII. 14:
Who ever shall have a wanton Staig in the harigg that will not be ruled by the herds, but runs away upon Corns and meadows, the Owner there of shall langel it.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 108:
A quadruped is so [camshackled], when its two fore legs are “langled,” or confined with a chain, so that it cannot leap.Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (3 March):
If a cow was bad to milk a “beerach” was put on, and a wild unmanageable beast was “langaled.”Abd.⁷ 1925:
My feet got langlet am o' the hedder an' I fell owre.

2. Fig. To involve, encumber, curb, restrain, hamper, frustrate.Sc. 1713 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1842) I. 425:
We are langalled enough from many arts, especially in our Assemblies.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1874) 281:
I am not my own man, I am settled, tied up, tethered, side-langled — I am under a solemn engagement.Abd. 1895 G. Williams Scarbraes 58:
“I canna; I'm langled already,” he replied, “a farm needs a hantle o' things.”Abd. 1922 Weekly Free Press (28 Jan.) 3:
Aw'll sit doon in a dry hoose afore I langle masel' wi' as muckle enterest, an' a' th' taxes t' pey over an' above.Abd. 1935 Sc. N. & Q. (Feb.) 23:
Th' deil may be langle't — bit fat o' 'is leem?